Projects, Grants and Partnerships

Projects and Partnerships

The Projects and Partnership Team at South Devon College has an integral role in in identifying different funding opportunities to support students, colleagues and the wider community. We have strong links with external stakeholders and are responsible for managing projects to ensure successful delivery, reporting and, if applicable, claims processes throughout the life-cycle of the project. Previously, successful bids have been international projects (Erasmus+) as well as local projects working with local grammar schools and academies. A range of funding sources are regularly identified, these are matched to College priorities and then together specific departments the project team develop the bid to secure this funding.

Live projects include:


Project: National Retraining Scheme	Funding Source
Employer-led Technical and Digital Bootcamp Project which includes courses that are between 2-6 weeks long and have been co-designed with employers in key sectors. Sectors that are looking to reinforce their workforce with new talent and/or increase the skill of the existing workforce. Photonics, Optics, Microelectronics, Marine and Automotive are all key areas within this. The purpose of these programmes is to support transition into employment, further develop skills increasing progression opportunities, and open pathways to further and higher education such as an apprenticeship at Level 4.
Project: FE Digital Accelerator	Funding Source
South Devon College plans an overhaul of external connectivity to improve the speed and bandwidth of external and internal IT systems and upgrade internal IT equipment to facilitate more flexible curriculum delivery. This Growth Deal funded project supports the College IT infrastructure enhancements, including upgraded WiFi, increased bandwidth and deployment of remote working and teaching technology.
Project: Health and Social Care Skills Accelerator Programme (HSSAP)	Funding Source
This European Social Fund funded project will deliver a flexible range of training, on programme support, advice and guidance to individual beneficiaries and offering a transformational programme of training responding to local skills gaps and developing the future labour market. The programme will be co-developed in partnership with the sector, adding value to apprenticeships and the wider skills set of current employees and offering sector readiness training for those considering entering Health / Social Care. The programme will include extensive 1:1 on programme coaching and support offered by a career coach, supporting the programme. Fundamental to the design of the programme and training offer will be clear progression pathways to apprenticeships and higher level programmes and progression into and within the sector.
Project: Erasmus +	Funding Source
Developing work and cultural experiences overseas for vocational students across various curriculum areas. To gain work experience abroad, to develop students cultural and language awareness as well as their personal and professional development, to support student and staff mobilities to partners in France, Sweden, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Project: Hi Tech & Digital Centre supported by the Getting Building Fund	Funding Source
A new high quality education, business and skills facility, meets the skills demands from employers, to encourage and support high level sustainable jobs for students and to support economically and strategically important sectors. The Centre will provide individuals with the skills to support local businesses, such as: – electronics, lasers, fibre, satellite and communications, aerospace, marine, medical and data analysis (Big Data). The ERDF funding has enabled the creation of a dedicated Business Centre incorporated within the Hi-Tech and Digital Centre for local businesses. It has 15 incubation office units, including 2 Collaboration Zones, 2 Meeting Rooms and associated business support provided by Torbay Development Agency. HEFCE will contribute capital and revenue funds to the Centre.
Project: Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW3)	Funding Source
Skills Support for the Workforce (SSW) is a programme developed to upskill employees within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Devon. We provide recognised accredited qualifications and bespoke training courses to enhance your employees’ skills, increase the competitiveness of your business and boost the local economy. South Devon College is part of Serco’s network of expert organisations chosen to deliver the SSW programme in your area. Because SSW is co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), we can support your workforce at no extra cost to your business.
Project: Careers South West	Funding Source
Supported by Devon County Skills for Young People, the aim of this project is to support disengaged young people to enter and progress into the labour market and to reduce the number of young people aged 15-18 who are not in education, employment or training or at risk of not being so.
Project: Hidden Talent in Devon (HTiD)	Funding Source
A widening participation project funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), seeking to encourage more learners from diverse background onto Higher Education through engagement events and taster sessions. In partnership with University of Plymouth.
Project: Savoy Educational Trust	Funding Source
A project which invest in equipment and materials for events and competitions, which also supports students to go on enrichment trips as well as to support the Junior Chef programme and to create community programmes.
Project: SMART Skills	Funding Source
SMART SKILLS aims to help Devon based small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) businesses to identify skills gaps in their existing workforce and provide the skills training they need to become more resilient during this economic crisis and beyond, the bid aims to support business now for the future. SMART SKILLS partners are CSW Group, City College Plymouth, South Devon College, Petroc, Focus Training, University of Exeter and Learn Devon. SMART SKILLS delivery partnership offers a range of quality training and skills providers across Devon; including but not limited to; Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering, Digital Technologies (including AI and Data Analysis), Marine, Composite, Environmental Futures, Clean Growth and Renewables, Construction & Hospitality and STEM industries. Over the next three years, our partnership will support 2980 businesses and individuals in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. SMART SKILLS HUB will be an integral part of the programme, providing a point of reference for employers and other stakeholders to learn more about the programme offer and receive support from SMART SKILLS Advisors who will link employers to the appropriate support.
Project: Strategic Employer in Devon (SEED)	Funding Source
An ESF funded project which is working with 20 SMEs to develop Higher Education participation in the workforce through curriculum development and engagement with local businesses. In partnership with University of Plymouth.
Project: Taking Teaching Further	Funding Source
Department for Education-funded initiative which is managed by the Education and Training Foundation (ETF) – strand 1 includes recruiting experienced industry experts to FE. Strand 2 included 10 Tutor Industry Partnerships, allowing staff from both industry and education to be released from their daily duties throughout the project to undertake a range of activities including research, shadowing, guest teaching, professional focus groups and curriculum / professional training development.
Project: Experience Works	Funding Source
Part-funded by the European Social Fund, Experience Works is a programme of employability support and personalised mentoring that will help 15-24 year olds to get into work, training or education, or support them to stick with school or college if they are having difficulties. In a competitive jobs market, one of the difficulties many young people face is how they can demonstrate their potential to employers if they have limited work experience on their CV. Experience Works creates real-world opportunities through social action and workplace learning that help them to develop and document the transferable skills they need to show an employer they are work-ready. And at the same time, it provides tailor-made support to build their confidence, whatever ups and downs they are facing. Through a combination of one to one mentoring and group sessions participants learn about employability, take part in work and skills tasters, volunteer in the community, and in doing so create their own Employment Key that clearly demonstrates to an employer or training provider that they have the ability to work and learn. Experience Works is delivered by a partnership of organisations across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay who will work with over 1200 young people between 2021 and 2023.

Some recent projects supported by us are:

South West Energy Centre: Build and delivery of business support for renewable energy enterprises
Skills for Growth: European Social Fund (ESF) funded leadership and management
Brunel Centre: New catering training facility to support schools in Newton Abbot
Petroc – Empowering Enterprise
Pluss – Building Better Opportunities (BBO)
Teacher Regional Improvement Projects (TRIPs)
Ufi funded project Infinity Generator
Outstanding Teaching Learning and Assessment (OTLA)

Projects and Partnerships

Some recent projects supported by us are:

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