Five projects in Powys have been granted a total of £750,000 from the Shared Prosperity Fund to enhance skills and job opportunities.

The funding, distributed over the past eight months, aims to help residents secure better employment prospects.

The Powys Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) Local Partnership Board, along with Powys County Council's Economy and Climate Service, awarded the money under the People and Skills category.

The University of Sheffield AMRC Cymru received £250,000 for its Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity through Training and Skills initiative.

This project will train 80 employees across 16 companies in advanced manufacturing techniques.

Aberystwyth University was granted £248,287 for its Green Digital Transformation project.

This will provide training for businesses in Powys that are seeking investment for, or commissioning, new digital systems.

Powys County Council’s Economy and Climate Service was awarded £124,183 for its Transition into Meaningful Employment project.

This initiative will provide employment guidance, support, and mentoring for young people aged 16 to 19.

Cwmpas received £99,068 for its Digital Confidence Powys project.

This will offer digital inclusion advice and training in community and council-run settings, and provide some equipment for those without internet access.

Finally, NPTC Group of Colleges was given £29,462 for its Preparing for Sustainable Futures project.

This will offer a short course on Sustainable Futures free of charge to students returning to education or looking to make a career change.

Councillor David Selby, the council’s cabinet member for a more prosperous Powys and chair of the Powys SPF Local Partnership Board, outlined the objectives of the People and Skills theme.

These include boosting core skills, supporting adults to progress in work, reducing economic inactivity levels, and supporting those furthest from the labour market to overcome barriers to work.

The Powys SPF Local Partnership Board is responsible for deciding how the over £26 million in SPF money allocated to Powys for 2022-25 by the UK Government should be spent.