Digital Skills for Growth

This Programme is now CLOSED for applications.

 

Would you like up to £4,000 for digital skills training for someone you are appointing to your business?

New developments in digital technology offer businesses in Essex significant opportunities to grow. Often, however, it is difficult to identify candidates with the right skills.

Digital Skills for Growth is an Essex Employment and Skills Board programme administered by Essex County Council that offers you funding when you employ a young person aged 19 to 24. Up to £4,000 (at up to 70% contribution from the programme) is available to train the young person in advanced skills related to the use of digital technology. Some examples of training areas are computer aided design, website design and development, IT project management, software development, computer programming, digital marketing and social media, multi-media production, systems architecture, data security and data analytics. You can recruit in two ways:

  • Recruit externally and bring a new young person into your organisation
  • Appoint a young person who is in the last 3 months of their fixed term or temporary contract (this can include an apprenticeship) who you would like to train further so that they can take on a new position

The key features of the programme are that you can:

  • Choose any advanced digital technology training courses – the course can be accredited or unaccredited and can be delivered in whichever way best suits you.
  • Choose any training provider – the training provider may be located inside or outside of Essex.
  • Select as many training courses as you think are needed to train the young person to the required standard (up to the £4,000 grant maximum).
  • Recruit more than one young person – they can claim a grant of up to £4,000 for each young person that they recruit.

To apply, you just need to complete the Digital Skills for Growth Application Form (SG5E).

When you have completed the form please send it to skillsgrowth@essex.gov.uk. Full details on eligibility are included on the form.

Please note that you must register by completing an initial application form before you have decided who you will appoint.

If you have any questions about the programme please contact the Digital Skills for Growth team at skillsgrowth@essex.gov.uk.