A proposed new fund would teach highly-sought-after workplace skills to jobseekers in Bradford.
Bradford Council is aiming to create an Advanced Skills Fund, which would see jobless people taught the high-level skills that local businesses say they are crying out for.
The fund would aim to help companies flourish, while stemming the number of people claiming jobseekers’ allowance, which is growing locally, despite a national drop.
Expanding businesses would be asked what skills they would require from their current or future workforce, with tailor-made university and college courses being developed to suit.
If the £1.25 million fund is given the go-ahead, its first job would be training people up to work for award-winning engineering company BorgWarner, which has promised to give jobs to 100 Bradford residents.
The firm, which won Manufacturer of the Year at the Telegraph & Argus Bradford Means Business awards on Saturday, is expanding its workforce after landing a multi-million pound contract with Jaguar Land Rover to manufacture turbo chargers for their new engines.
The Advanced Skills Fund, which would run until 2016, would also support other employers in the district who are developing their businesses and looking to recruit skilled employees.
Businesses could even send existing staff on the courses to learn new skills and advance their careers.
The fund would be formed as a new strand of the Council’s £9 million Get Bradford Working scheme, which aims to boost qualifications and skills in the local population.
The Council's Executive will look at establishing the fund at its next meeting on Tuesday.
Councillor David Green, leader of Bradford Council, said: “The Advanced Skills Fund will be a further Council investment on top of the money we have put into the Get Bradford Working scheme to deliver meaningful jobs and qualifications to people.”
And Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, executive member for employment and skills, said: “The fund will accelerate growth in key business sectors and provide a boost for the local economy.”
If the idea gets the go-ahead, the Council could apply to the European Regional Development Fund for more cash for the fund.
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