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Specialist Skills Support Programme

The Specialist Skills Support Programme will deliver a programme of activities to support Micro, Small and/or Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) businesses and their employees, enabling them to take advantage of the opportunities for growth and increased prosperity in the York, North Yorkshire, East Riding (YNYER) Region. 

There are three strands of support that will be delivered by this project:

Specialist Support for an Ageing Workforce

A programme of activity to support SMEs by offering innovative solutions to address current and future shortfalls in skilled labour due to an ageing workforce and also support employed individuals aged 50+ to remain economically active for longer.

Capacity Building for SMEs

A programme of activity to support SMEs in:

  • recruiting, retaining and up-skilling employees from disadvantaged groups
  • improving their capacity for market expansion nationally and internationally
  • increasing the number of graduate opportunities

The programme also aims to deliver a programme of activities to support employees who are on in-work benefits to realise their potential and deliver skills solutions which will increase their employment prospects.

Women in STEM

A programme of activity to support female workers to remain and develop in STEM businesses in order to meet future demand in the sector. 

The Specialist Skills Support Programme will be delivered in Partnership by Calderdale College, University of York and NYBEP Ltd.

Funding

The Specialist Skills Support Programme is part funded by the European Social Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the Managing Authority for the European Social Fund.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for support through this Programme the business must:

  • have a business premises in the York, North Yorkshire, East Riding region (Craven, Harrogate, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough, Selby, York)
  • be a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME): employ fewer than 250 full time equivalent staff and have either a turnover of less than €50 million, or a balance sheet of less than €43 million

Programme dates

Delivery of this programme is due to start at the end of 2020, and will run until October 2022. 

Further information

If you would like to find out futher information about the programmes please contact us on cpd@york.ac.uk or +44 (0)1904 325145.

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