skills

FUN FLOWER ARRANGING WORKSHOP - Early Summer Abundance - A Romantic Garden Vase Arrangement

Event Date: 
09/05/2026 - 10:00am to 12:30pm
Venue: 
BRITISH ACADEMY OF FLORAL ART STUDIOS, 3 DUNCHIDEOCK BARTON, EXETER. EX2 9UA

Fun Flower Workshop - Early Summer Abundance - A Romantic Garden Vase Arrangement - Saturday 9th May 2026 10am-12.30pm

Discover the Joy of Floral Creation – Perfect for Solo Relaxation or Shared Fun.

Escape the everyday and immerse yourself in a tranquil morning of creativity and connection at our 2.5-hour floral workshops. Held in our purpose-designed studio in a stunning rural setting, this is your chance to craft your own floral masterpiece in an environment of peace and inspiration.

What to Expect:

All materials provided: Everything you need perfectly...

Exeter College unveils strategic plan to tackle the South West’s construction skills shortage

The South West region’s Construction Technical Excellence College (CTEC), Exeter College , has announced its initial plans to deliver its CTEC program and lead the region’s response to the construction industry’s growing skills challenge.

Across the UK, nearly 48,000 additional construction workers are needed each year to meet demand. The sector currently faces more than 140,000 vacancies, and by 2027, it will require an estimated 225,000 new recruits.

On Friday 21 November, Exeter College outlined its strategy to help bridge this gap and boost the pipeline of skilled...

Jobs fair to help South West employers tackle talent shortage

Authored by Program
Posted: Tue, 10/25/2022 - 7:23pm

Local businesses are invited to attend a free virtual jobs fair on Tuesday 22nd November 2022, 10am - 2pm to connect with local adults who have recently completed a Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamp.

Train4Tomorrow digital and technical Skills Bootcamps, delivered by Devon County Council , provide a solution to the region’s recruitment challenges by training employed, self-employed and unemployed adults in Devon and Cornwall.

The Skills Bootcamps offer free training, lasting up to 16 weeks, in areas such as digital marketing, IT, cyber security, software development,...

Campaign for Learning gearing up the nation for another Learning at Work Week

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 05/16/2022 - 6:22am

Campaign for Learning is celebrating the 24th Learning at Work Week this week (16th-22nd May). The theme, Learning Uncovered, is focused on raising the profile of lifelong learning at work and encouraging everyone to uncover and share their learning power.

Organisations in the South West are taking part, including Taking Care and UWE Bristol, who have planned some exciting activities for their teams.

The national celebration is calling on employers across the country to promote a learning culture for all in their organisation. The Learning at Work Week website has...

Local Skills Report sets priorities for the South West

Authored by Program
Posted: Wed, 03/23/2022 - 10:00am

The Heart of the South West Skills Launchpad , part of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP), has launched a Local Skills Report, which sets out priorities for the region for 2022 to 2024.

The report recognises that the area's economy is shaped and led by the skills of its residents and businesses, but that the level of those holding a higher-level qualification or working in a professional occupation within the Heart of South West remains below the national average.

Since 2019, the Heart of the South West Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) has...

Digital jobs fair launched to connect Devon employers with local talent

Authored by Program
Posted: Wed, 02/02/2022 - 4:26pm

The government-funded Train4Tomorrow programme is running a Digital Jobs Fair on Wednesday 16 March 2022, to connect employers with local adults who have recently completed a digital bootcamp to gain in-demand skills.

The South West is facing a skills shortage. The rapid growth of the digital sector has led to businesses struggling to find the skilled people they need to meet their demand, and businesses across the region are facing recruitment challenges. The Train4Tomorrow programme aims to tackle the skills crisis by offering adults access to fully-funded training in in-demand...

Free training courses to tackle farming and woodland management skills shortages launched in the South West

Authored by Program
Posted: Mon, 12/20/2021 - 1:39pm

Technology, and its role in supporting a more sustainable future, is becoming increasingly important across all sectors, including Farming and Woodland Management.

tis a governmen t funded programme supporting adults in the South West to develop the in-demand skills required by industry through free training.

In January, Duchy College in Cornwall and Bicton College in Devon are running an 8-week Agri-Tech Woodland Management course. There are no set entry requirements to take part, and the course is completely free! Students over the age of 19 with an interest in Forestry...

£75,000 grants available to support employment and skills projects

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 11/19/2021 - 10:11pm

Charities and community groups in the South and South West of England are invited to apply for a share of £75,000 funding for employment and skills projects.

Sovereign Housing Association, working with not-for-profit digital fundraising platform The Good Exchange, has grants available for community projects that focus on supporting people to upskill, access training, find work or better work, or self-employment opportunities.

Projects need to be based within three miles of a Sovereign home and could be anything from community learning programmes and job clubs to homework...

South West skills shortages highlighted by the region’s businesses

A recent survey of regional businesses, undertaken by South West recruitment specialists King Recruit, uncovers concerns about future skills shortages and the dissolution of current workplace roles.

Intrigued by the changing demands of our new digital age, Specialist Recruitment and Search Agency King Recruit decided to conduct a survey with South West clients to find out if they are prepared for this so called ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution.’

Helen Plumridge, Managing Director of King Recruit, comments: “We are increasingly reminded by the media and industry experts that...

Manager for Guardian Homecare, Catherine Porter.

Devon care provider says it’s bucking the national trend and retaining its staff

Authored by Reporters
Posted: Fri, 05/31/2019 - 7:14am

A RECENT survey by Skills for Care found staff retention was one of the biggest issues facing the care industry but one south Devon care provider says it is bucking the national trend (May 2019).

Guardian Homecare, which provides services in Exeter and Torbay, says the findings by the strategic body for workforce development in English adult social care don’t apply to its team, as it is successfully retaining its staff.

Manager for Guardian Homecare, Catherine Porter said: “It was revealed in the research that staff retention is a bigger challenge than recruitment for care...

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