Loughborough’s Hub for Skills Training and Business Support Relaunches with Town Deal Funding

Loughborough’s Hub for Skills Training and Business Support Relaunches with Town Deal Funding

(IN BRIEF) The Careers and Enterprise Hub in Loughborough has relaunched after receiving additional funding from the Loughborough Town Deal. The hub, managed by advisors from Loughborough University and Loughborough College, celebrated its reopening by hosting a recruitment fair that brought together job seekers and employers. The hub initially opened in 2021 with a grant of £750,000 from the Loughborough Town Deal, and an additional £150,000 of funding has recently been used to make further improvements to the building. The relaunch was praised by Dr Nik Kotecha, Chair of the Loughborough Town Deal Board, who highlighted the hub’s contribution to local employment and career development. The hub offers support for skills training, business startups, and education pathways, and it is part of a broader town deal initiative that aims to improve skills and opportunities for Loughborough residents. The project involves collaboration between Loughborough College, Loughborough University, and Charnwood Borough Council. The Loughborough Town Deal has secured £16.9 million in government funding for 11 projects, totaling over £40 million in investments for the town. Several other projects, including town center regeneration, the preservation of John Taylor & Co Bell Foundry, towpath improvements, and enhancements to the Great Central Railway, are already underway.

(PRESS RELEASE) LOUGHBOROUGH, 5-Jul-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The Careers and Enterprise Hub in Loughborough has relaunched following some further work funded by Loughborough Town Deal.

The Hub, which is run by specialist advisors from Loughborough University and Loughborough College, marked the occasion by hosting a recruitment fair. The hub in Market Place was busy as job seekers and employers were brought together.

The hub opened in 2021 thanks to a £750,000 grant from Loughborough Town Deal and a further £150,000 of Town Deal funding has recently helped bring further improvements to the building, including its roof and windows.

Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, Chair of the Loughborough Town Deal Board, said: “The Careers and Enterprise Hub was one of the first success stories of the Town Deal and I am delighted that we have been able to support it further.

“It has already helped – and will continue to help – many local people find employment or take that next exciting step in their careers. With a clear aim through our Town Deal to improve skills and create better opportunities for Loughborough residents, I’m delighted that the Hub will go on to support more people every day.”

Professor Chris Rielly, lead for the Town Deal funded Healthy and Innovative Loughborough Project hosted at Loughborough University, said: “We are really pleased to be working with Loughborough College in the Careers and Enterprise Hub, to support local people and entrepreneurs to access skills training and business startup support.

“The next stage of Town Deal funding will be applied to improve accessibility for disabled people in the Hub, as well as creating workspace and labs for prototyping of innovative designs on the Loughborough University Science and Enterprise Park.”

Stuart Lindeman, Chair of Governors at Loughborough College, said: “Shaping futures is a core vision at Loughborough College, and this goes beyond the important work we do with our own learners.

“The Careers and Enterprise Hub provides an essential service to our local community, allowing people to access advice and opportunities in a nurturing and inspiring space. This relaunch marks an important milestone in a fantastic project and we’re proud to play a part in its success.”

Cllr Jenni Tillotson, the Council’s lead member for economic development, regeneration and town centres, said: “I am delighted the Council has been able to play a role in creating the Careers and Enterprise Hub with partners and it is a great addition to the town centre.”

Loughborough University is responsible for the building’s first floor space which is used as the town centre base of LU inc. – the university’s business incubator. It supports new businesses with advice, training and access to resources. The hub has also been used to host activities and events to support new businesses.

Loughborough College has a dedicated team based at the hub, who support local people by advising them on education and training pathways to boost their skills. They also provide CV and letter writing workshops, interview skills and application forms and help people land full or part-time jobs or get into education and training.

The hub was created thanks to a collaboration between the college, university and Charnwood Borough Council.

Loughborough Town Deal is supporting 11 projects after securing £16.9 million of Government funding. In total, the projects are worth over £40 million of investment for the town.

A town centre regeneration scheme, backed by the town deal is already completed and projects to boost the town centre, save John Taylor & Co Bell Foundry, improve two kilometres of towpath, and make improvements to Great Central Railway are well underway.

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Source: Loughborough University