Work has been progressing to support tourism businesses on the Lincolnshire coast.

Work has been progressing to support tourism businesses on the Lincolnshire coast and improve access to jobs and training.

The LEP secured £370,000 from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund in March and is developing the Coastal Sustainability through Careers and Business Skills in Greater Lincolnshire scheme.

It will support tourism businesses on the Lincolnshire coast to survive and thrive and will help residents – both employed and unemployed – to find jobs and develop their careers by raising aspirations and upskilling the workforce.

The scheme has been identifying Coastal Champions who will inspire others to embrace tourism and hospitality as a career. A series of short videos featuring the Coastal Champions will be available early in the New Year.

The scheme is currently commissioning skills delivery programmes and hopes to introduce training in the following areas: Level 3 Food Safety, Professional Cookery (to Level 3), Customer Service for All (with a diversity focus), Equality and Diversity Champion, Hospitality Supervision and Leadership, and gateway courses for new entrants in hospitality, maintenance, and mental health first aid.

The project also aims to provide training in other specific areas such as caravan park maintenance and lifeguarding. It is hoped that training in all these areas will be available from February 2020.

The programme will run from October 2019 until March 2021. It is hoped that it will create 100 new jobs, safeguard 120 existing jobs and support 370 new learners, 50 coastal businesses and five social enterprises.

To find out more contact Nicola Radford by emailing nicola.radford@lincolnshire.gov.uk.