Extra training is being provided for HGV drivers and food production is becoming more automated thanks to funding worth more than £1.6 million from the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Five projects have received funding totalling £1,649,788 from the Greater Lincolnshire Labour Market Support Fund to help address labour market challenges in the area.
The projects are: Greater Lincolnshire LGV Driving Academy (MODAL Training Centre, Immingham; £286,275); Drive 2 Work (Lincoln College and Stamford College; £747,343); Professional Driver Development Programme (Boston College; £265,284); Production Line Automation (Worldwide Fruit, Spalding £150,886); and Business Capacity Development for Best Practice Recruitment and Development (SkillsReach, Lincoln; £200,000).
Job vacancies across Greater Lincolnshire are at an all-time high, but employers across all sectors are experiencing labour shortages caused by the combined impact of the pandemic, a reduction in migrant labour from EU, and a desire for a better work-life balance.
Clare Hughes, Skills and Employment Executive Manager at the Greater Lincolnshire LEP, said: “Many of our businesses are experiencing a perfect storm of adverse conditions which together are making it extremely difficult to recruit and retain high-quality employees.
“The Greater Lincolnshire Labour Market Support Fund was created to address these challenges, and we’re very pleased to have agreed grant support for five projects which we’re confident will make a big difference.
“We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition, and we would encourage other businesses to contact us for support and advice if they are experiencing difficulties recruiting and retaining staff in this challenging period.”
