People and Skills is a core strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), and through the Good Growth Programme we’ve supported initiatives that help residents improve their life chances, access new careers, and gain the confidence and qualifications needed to succeed.
Across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the programme has created more than 30,000 skills and training opportunities, supporting people of all ages and backgrounds from young people entering the workforce to adults retraining for new sectors, and employers strengthening the skills of their teams.
Good Growth funding has supported a diverse portfolio of projects that embed skills development into every investment, ensuring long‑term benefits for communities, businesses and the wider economy.
Addressing Local Skills Gaps
Local employers have consistently reported gaps in core employability skills, digital capability, and sector‑specific competencies needed for growth. At the same time, many residents face barriers to accessing training — from low confidence in maths and literacy to complex personal circumstances, health challenges, and a lack of clear pathways into good‑quality jobs.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly also faces urgent demand for new talent in rapidly growing areas such as green technologies, digital and tech, and the construction sector, all essential to delivering the region’s future infrastructure.
Good Growth Approach
The Good Growth Programme has addressed these challenges by investing in accessible, inclusive, and high‑impact training programmes designed with local partners and aligned to employer demand.
1.Targeted Skills Support for Those Who Need It Most
The Good Growth Programme has backed a range of specialist initiatives that help individuals gain essential skills, qualifications, and confidence. These include:
- People Hub — a single front door for residents aged 16+ seeking employment, training or skills support, offering triage, tailored advice, and links to specialist providers.
- Multiply — free numeracy courses for adults, helping people improve workplace skills, support their children’s learning, and manage their finances. Delivered by four local education providers.
- Yep! — supporting young people aged 16–24, particularly those who are NEET or facing multiple barriers, to build confidence, resilience and employability.
These programmes ensure that support reaches those who need it most, helping people overcome barriers and move closer to employment, training or further education.
2. Preparing the Workforce for Future Sectors
Good Growth has also supported projects that enable people to gain the technical and sector‑specific skills needed for Cornwall’s future economy. These include:
- The Future is Green — offering training and qualifications that prepare individuals and businesses for green jobs and accelerate the transition to a low‑carbon economy. Delivered through a partnership of nine FE, HE and specialist organisations.
- Construction Skills Hub — supporting the future construction pipeline through green construction training, improved facilities, digital infrastructure and employer‑led curriculum development.
- Digital Futures Cornwall – helping people access high‑quality tech careers through practical training and employer partnerships.
Together, these projects help ensure the region has the skilled workforce needed to fulfil future opportunities in high‑growth sectors.
3. Embedding Skills Across All Good Growth Projects
A core feature of the Good Growth Programme is the requirement that every funded project embeds skills and workforce development into its delivery.
This approach has ensured that training and continuous professional development have become part of everyday business practice, multiplying the long‑term impact of investments.
Projects are contractually required to submit Employment and Skills Action Plans, setting out how they will build capability within their workforce, volunteers and trustees. As a result, even projects not directly funding training still contribute to upskilling the local workforce and improving career progression opportunities.
Real impact
Our video highlights just a few of the individuals and organisations that have benefitted from Good Growth investment — each demonstrating how targeted skills support is creating real change across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
People Hub
People Hub participants report gaining confidence, practical skills and direct access to qualifications that have helped them move into employment, further training and long-term stability. The service has been especially impactful for individuals facing multiple barriers and those furthest from the labour market.
Digital Academy (part of Digitial Futures Cornwall)
The Digital Academy is a 16-week, full-time software development bootcamp to offer clear routes into Cornwall’s growing tech sector. Learners gain practical coding and digital problem-solving skills, with graduates describing the programme as a “life-changing” stepping stone into high-quality employment.
Piran Composites
As part of their Good Growth project, Piran Composites established a new apprenticeship programme to help address local skills shortages and future-proof their workforce. The company is now training new entrants in advanced composites manufacturing while providing long-term career routes for local people.