Digital skills programme seeking to boost career opportunities

A new ten-week digital skills programme is set to be launched in Caerphilly.

The Skills Academy programme, which will have space for 15 participants, aims to help people grow their career opportunities or start a new business.

Anyone aged 19 or over can take part, providing they work 16 hours or less a week, with £1,500 given to each participant over the ten-week period.

The course starts on Monday May 15, with a different topic each week, including coding, digital skills, web building, career development, business ideas, marketing, admin, time management and finance.

The £22,500 project is funded by the Welsh Government will be delivered by Caerphilly-based TownSq, which runs a string of co-working spaces across the UK.

TownSq has teamed up with Caerphilly-based business start-up hub Welsh ICE and Coleg y Cymoedd to launch the programme, which will be held weekly at Welsh ICE’s campus on Caerphilly Business Park.

Mandy Weston, chief operating officer for TownSq, said: “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 76% stating 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.”

For more information on Skills Academy, to apply, visit TownSq’s website, email hello@townsq.co.uk or call 02921 111252.