£22.5k available to bolster digital skills in Caerphilly

A new, fully funded development programme has launched across Caerphilly to help local people over 19 years of age, who work 16 hours or less, improve their digital skills and take the next steps in their careers.

Starting on 15 May, the 10-week series of workshops will provide people with the necessary digital skills to grow their career opportunities or start a new business. It will also support them with up to £150 per week training allowance, to help them with equipment and living costs as they learn. 

Participants will acquire direct experience to develop their own ideas and a chance to test them out first-hand, with a different topic each week, covering coding and digital skills, web building, career development, generating business ideas, marketing, admin, time management and finance. 

The project is funded by the Welsh Government and will be delivered by startup and small business experts, Town Square Spaces Ltd (TownSq) in partnership with Coleg y Cymoedd. It will be held weekly at the Welsh ICE Campus at Caerphilly Business Park.

Mandy Weston, Chief Operating Officer for TownSq, said: “We’re delighted to be delivering this programme with Coleg Y Cymoedd, to give participants access to industry professionals, resources and experience to help them on their digital career path.

“The UK as a whole is suffering from a lack of digital skills, and in Wales the situation is no better, with a 2021 YouGov poll finding that 76% stating that the digital skills shortage would affect their ability to grow. This project is a direct answer to that challenge and aims to support those under or unemployed to learn the skills that will help them either fill the roles we so desperately need or create their own.

“I’d encourage anyone looking for a new career, or thinking of starting a digital business to get in touch and see if Skills Academy might be right for you.”

Skills Academy is open to anyone aged 19 or over, who is currently working 16 hours or less a week and based in or around the Caerphilly area. There are only 15 spaces available for the workshop, which starts on Monday 15 May.

For more information or to apply, you can call 02921 111 252, email hello@townsq.co.uk or go to thetownsquare.co.uk/academy.