Liverpool City Region Combined Authority agreed capital funding of almost £8.9m through its Local Growth Fund for projects targeting people across all six borough. Tony McDonough reports

Projects looking to boost skills across the Liverpool city region are to receive a funding boost of almost £9m.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority agreed capital funding of almost £8.9m through its Local Growth Fund.

Subject to funding conditions the cash will help to refurbish and reequip colleges and training facilities, including the £3.9m conversion of the former St Winifred’s Catholic Church in Bootle to provide health and social care training in partnership with Merseycare NHS Trust.

Other awards include a refurbished welding workshop at Halton’s Riverside College, a digital training suite at St Helens Chamber of Commerce and funding to improve facilities at Everton Learning Centre, Women’s Technology Training, Speke Training and Education Centre and the Greenbank Project.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Portfolio Holder for Skills and Apprenticeships, Cllr Ian Maher, said: “Improving and developing skills is one of our biggest challenges as a city region.

“Today we are agreeing a series of investments that will make a crucial difference, enabling people to access the skills and training they need to find rewarding work.”

Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, added: “These awards have been targeted to support key priorities and ensure we have the spaces and facilities across the city region to enable all our communities to access the skills and jobs we need to develop in every one of our six boroughs.

“I am especially delighted by the focus on groups who have traditionally been disadvantaged in terms of skills and employment.

“We need to nurture and develop the talents of all our people if we are to realise our full potential.”