Member Article

Rotherham’s Kostal gets a slice of £5.2 million government skills funding

Skills and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock today announced that Rotherham firm Kostal, the electronics manufacturer, was one of three companies to share £5.2 million funding to increase skills and traineeships.

Speaking at a UK Commission for Employment and Skills Investment Showcase, the Minister announced the successful bidders, which include Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Freedom Communications.

Kostal (UK) Ltd will use the funding to address the skills needs identified by employers in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector in the Sheffield City Region.

The project will be run by a board, chaired by Kostal (UK) Ltd, and made up of a number of employers from the City Region.

Last year’s successfu EOP bidders; National Grid, Everton Football Club, Rogers Restorations and Costain, have pledged to create a total of 5,000 traineeships, which will be funded by EOP.

Matthew Hancock said: “Our goal is to bring employment and education closer together, to deliver the skills employers need.

“This straight forward, flexible employer ownership fund will allow employers in the supply chain to develop their skills so they can take advantage of significant growth opportunities in the sector.

“By having a highly skilled workforce, companies will be able to grow and meet the imminent and longer-term needs of automotive manufacturing companies.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .