High Level Skills programme – celebrating Black History Month 2020

As part of NTU’s commitment to celebrating this, we have published some stories about the local Black-led businesses that the High Level Skills programme have worked with throughout the year.

This support is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund

Black History Month has been celebrated in the UK for more than 30 years. It acknowledges signature moments in the history of the UK and is a celebration of the magnificence of cultural diversity and the enriching value in peaceful co-existence

Organised annually in October, it is the perfect opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contribution that Black-led businesses make to the local economy both in the present day and historically. Read about some incredible 100 Great Black Britons, as well as some great leaders of today’s businesses as we celebrate Black British enterprise.

As part of NTU’s commitment to celebrating this, we have published some stories about the local Black-led businesses that NTU have worked with throughout the year as part of the High Level Skills programme.

What is the High Level Skills programme, and how to enrol?

The programme works with a number of strategic partners and business support organisations to engage with and support businesses across D2N2. As part of the programme we want to ensure that local SMEs are informed and able to access the support and opportunities available to them, including opportunity to upskill your existing employees through training or apprenticeships, access the wealth of graduate talent that we have to offer, or put your voice at the heart of our curriculum by co-designing courses.

The programme, which is part-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), is committed to supporting gender equality and equal opportunity by ensuring appropriate actions are taken to raise awareness and improve access to the support for black-led businesses.

Most SMEs in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are eligible for support.

If you are interested in accessing the support available through this programme, including talent grants, fully funded courses, workshops and advice, please visit our website for more information.

You can also contact our team directly at esf@ntu.ac.uk or by calling +44 (0)115 848 8899.

Who is eligible?

Most small and medium organisations in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire are eligible for support. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are defined as:

Less than 250 employees
Annual turnover under EUR 50 million or;
Annual balance sheet less than EUR 43 million

Businesses must be based in the D2N2 area to qualify for support. D2N2 is the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Since 2018, the High Level Skills programme has supported businesses and individuals that may face additional barriers to high-level skills, including:

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people
people aged 50+
women
people with disabilities
people who missed out on traditional educational opportunities