£46 MILLION FOR SKILLS AND TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS IN WALES

More than 160 projects across Wales are set to receive a share of over £46 million investment to help people into work, boost productivity and deliver net zero, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove announced.   

The Community Renewal Fund will pilot new programmes that invest in people, boost skills and support local business – to build more communities that people are proud to call home.

The Fund is supporting around 500 towns, villages and coastal communities across the whole United Kingdom to ensure that no place is left behind as the Government delivers on its commitment to level up the country.

Many of the successful projects are also supporting UK’s path to net zero carbon emissions, giving businesses creating clean technology a boost and ensuring that jobs are future proof.  For example, £127,000 will encourage sustainable and inclusive transport solutions in South Wales, helping to reduce car use and address air pollution.

Other projects being funded include:

• £200,000 to support unemployed and disadvantaged people in Carmarthenshire to start their own business by investing in digital, employability and entrepreneurial skills. The programme will also fund a bootcamp for female entrepreneurs, creating a networking group for women in business.
• £45,900 to upgrade trails in the Dinas Mawddwy area of Gwynedd. A key part of improvements will make the trails more accessible to those with disabilities, helping to protect community networks and ensure the outdoors is open to all.
• £629,000 to support and fund manufacturers in Denbighshire to implement new or improved digital manufacturing strategies.
• £67,000 to deliver deaf awareness training and basic British Sign Language to customer facing staff at range of businesses and organisations throughout Rhondda Cynon Taf.
• £61,000 to fund a full feasibility study to improve visitor access to Freshwater West in Pembrokeshire which will benefit local businesses and ensure the environment is protected while increasing tourism.
• £1 million to establish a Creative Industry Training Programme (CITP) which will provide a collaborative way of working, supporting training and learning opportunities in venues across Merthyr Tydfil and Cardiff.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove said: 

“We are determined to unite and level up our whole United Kingdom.

“The projects we are supporting today, from Wrexham to Caerphilly, will help communities across Wales realise their full potential, create new opportunities for the future and help us achieve net zero carbon emissions.”

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said:

“The UK Government is completely focused on levelling up our communities, boosting skills and increasing opportunity for people right across Wales.

“Funding for dozens of fantastic projects the length and breadth of Wales from digital skills in Conwy to small business support in Torfaen shows how we will unlock the potential of all our local areas.

“This comes just days after £120m for Welsh projects was announced at last week’s Budget and shows that we will provide investment where it’s needed and where it can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Local authorities were invited to bid for funding from the Community Renewal Fund in May.

The £200 million funding through the UK Community Renewal Fund will help local areas prepare for the launch of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in 2022, the scheme that will see UK-wide funding at least match EU money, reaching around £1.5 billion a year.

In last week’s Budget, the UK Government announced investment of more than £121 million directly into communities in Wales, through the Levelling Up and Community Ownership funds, for big regeneration projects and smaller community initiatives.

Full list of projects funded in Wales 

Lead Authority	Project Name	Total Value
Blaenau Gwent	Blaenau Gwent Construction & Environmental routes into employment	£50,320
Blaenau Gwent	Blaenau Gwent NEET and Adult Employability Programme	£353,518
Blaenau Gwent	Digital Technology Learning Support Network	£179,421
Blaenau Gwent	EVi Community and Cultural Centre	£266,087
Blaenau Gwent	Helping Nature Help us Recover	£179,446
Blaenau Gwent	HIVE PROJECT	£145,809
Blaenau Gwent	THE LIFE YOU WANT’	£216,603
Blaenau Gwent	Transforming Young Minds for Tomorrow – Trawsnewid Meddyliau Ifanc ar gyfer Yfory	£88,614
Blaenau Gwent	Valleys Innovation Showcase for Technological Advancement (VISTA)	£1,008,874
Blaenau Gwent	Young Enterprise Blaenau Gwent	£219,520
Bridgend	Bridgend Elevate and Prosper (EAP)	£122,400
Bridgend	Connecting Teachers with Industry	£57,842
Bridgend	Enterprise Bridgend	£217,389
Bridgend	THE LIFE YOU WANT’	£204,300
Bridgend	Transforming Young Minds for Tomorrow – Trawsnewid Meddyliau Ifanc ar gyfer Yfory	£88,614
Bridgend	Women’s focussed Incubator for Ambitious Entrepreneurs in Bridgend.	£94,605
Caerphilly	Engaging Enterprise	£811,074
Caerphilly	Enterprise Caerphilly	£217,389
Caerphilly	THE LIFE YOU WANT’	£204,300
Caerphilly	Women’s focussed Incubator for Ambitious Entrepreneurs in Caerphilly	£94,605
Cardiff	Beicio Treganna Cycle	£6,630
Cardiff	Connecting and caring for Grangetown’s Green Spaces	£66,876
Cardiff	Cycling Together	£15,300
Cardiff	Employer Needs, Future Workers!	£68,763
Cardiff	Enterprise Cardiff	£219,520
Cardiff	Migrant Employment Assistance Wales / MEA Wales	£110,632
Cardiff	Priority Sector Skills Academies	£138,284
Cardiff	Rapid Reskilling	£156,892
Cardiff	The Cardiff Circular Economy Network (CCEN)	£53,807
Carmarthenshire	Banc Sgiliau Busnes Sir Gar/ Business Skills Bank Sir Gar (BSB Sir Gar)	£110,160
Carmarthenshire	Carmarthenshire Towns Recovery & growth pilot	£226,746
Carmarthenshire	Carmarthenshire’s Old Towns – Their Past, Present and Potential	£187,152
Carmarthenshire	Digging Beneath the Surface – Archives, Archaeology and Access in Carmarthenshire	£286,944
Carmarthenshire	Dreigiau CYCA Dragons Y cyfle i fynnu – the opportunity to thrive	£234,662
Carmarthenshire	Enterprise Carmarthenshire	£201,064
Carmarthenshire	Llanelli Town Centre Ambassador and Delivery Service Project	£181,101
Carmarthenshire	Rapid Skills Shortage Response	£824,947
Carmarthenshire	Regenerating Llanelli	£146,880
Carmarthenshire	Revitalise Rhydaman	£151,470
Carmarthenshire	Supporting the Welsh language in business and communties	£81,600
Carmarthenshire	THE LIFE YOU WANT ‘	£312,197
Ceredigion	AberInnovation Productivity Accelerator	£450,330
Ceredigion	AnTir Feasibility Project	£170,261
Ceredigion	BioAccelerate	£218,331
Ceredigion	Building the Resilience of Historic Visitor Attractions By Developing Volunteer Ability	£7,191
Ceredigion	Canolfan Tir Glas	£497,760
Ceredigion	Enabling the Recovery of Ceredigion Towns	£244,703
Ceredigion	Enterprise Ceredigion	£217,389
Ceredigion	Lle i Weithio	£101,550
Ceredigion	Mid Wales Challenge Led Launch Pad Series	£565,789
Ceredigion	New Skills New Start	£231,030
Ceredigion	Reverb	£75,212
Ceredigion	Rural Community Engagement and Outreach Project	£51,000
Conwy	Conwy Skills & Employability Programme for Recovery and Growth	£270,893
Conwy	Conwy Tourism Innovation Hub	£850,093
Conwy	Creating opportunities for Culture-led renewal: Conwy Culture Strategy Development	£219,842
Conwy	Digital and Creative Conwy	£442,900
Conwy	Digital support platforms for businesses and communities in Conwy	£75,480
Conwy	Llandudno Bay Promenade enhancement	£51,000
Conwy	Research on the impact of Covid19 on our town Centres	£91,800
Conwy	Rural Conwy Community Support and Development	£141,287
Conwy	Towyn & Kinmel Bay Community Connections Project	£63,507
Conwy	Transforming Young Minds for Tomorrow – Trawsnewid Meddyliau Ifanc ar gyfer Yfory	£88,614
Denbighshire	Blossom & Bloom – Community Outreach	£102,719
Denbighshire	Cam Ymlaen / Step Forward (Pilot) – Take that step forward to employment	£40,464
Denbighshire	Community Innovation Denbighshire	£554,749
Denbighshire	Cowork Local (Denbighshire)	£489,549
Denbighshire	Denbighshire STEM Connect	£406,832
Denbighshire	Digital Manufacturing Support Cymru Programme (DIMAS Programme)	£629,341
Denbighshire	Economic Empowerment Project	£113,387
Denbighshire	Employability Skills	£10,200
Denbighshire	Feasibility Study of a multi-vector Smart Local Energy System in Denbighshire County	£96,900
Denbighshire	Not Being Left Out	£10,324
Denbighshire	Pixel Engagement Programme	£109,133
Denbighshire	READY	£168,306
Denbighshire	Transforming Young Minds for Tomorrow – Trawsnewid Meddyliau Ifanc ar gyfer Yfory	£88,614
Denbighshire	Y TÅ· Gwyrdd	£69,691
Gwynedd	Digital Gwynedd	£157,993
Gwynedd	Enterprising Communities	£463,203
Gwynedd	Feasibility Study of a multi-vector Smart Local Energy System in Gwynedd County	£107,100
Gwynedd	Gwynedd Digital and Net Zero Business Academy	£340,077
Gwynedd	Llwybrau Mawddwy Cymru [Mawddwy Trails Wales]	£45,900
Gwynedd	Prosiect Net Zero Gwynedd	£600,987
Gwynedd	Sesiwn Fawr Development Project	£45,900
Gwynedd	Team Around the Young Person	£387,600
Gwynedd	Training and experience in the outdoor sector in Gwynedd.	£512,420
Isle of Anglesey	Adfywio Mon Renewal Programme	£591,600
Isle of Anglesey	Cefnogi Busnesau Môn	£217,062
Isle of Anglesey	Feasibility Study of a multi-vector Smart Local Energy System in Isle of Anglesey County	£96,900
Isle of Anglesey	Innovation Island	£924,017
Isle of Anglesey	Môn Ymlaen	£372,666
Isle of Anglesey	Providing high quality Level 4 Health and Social Care Education in North Wales	£517,915
Merthyr Tydfil	Creative Industry Training Programme	£1,027,119
Merthyr Tydfil	Encouraging Enterprise	£555,170
Merthyr Tydfil	H FACTOR Carbon Economy College (CEC)	£218,360
Merthyr Tydfil	Merthyr’s Roots – a living landscape	£173,135
Monmouthshire	Caldicot Community Partnership	£82,309
Monmouthshire	Carbon Free Future	£136,680
Monmouthshire	Digital Customer Acquisition: Moving the Needle	£606,334
Monmouthshire	iConnect	£122,611
Monmouthshire	Space for Local Production – SFLP	£167,063
Monmouthshire	The Future is Us – young people have their say	£168,491
Monmouthshire	The Zero Carbon Llanarth Village Plan	£122,400
Monmouthshire	Transforming MonLife’s Major Assets	£467,620
Monmouthshire	Wye Valley River Festival CIC Growing Community Interests	£169,848
Neath Port Talbot	A roadmap for restoring, enhancing and connecting Green Infrastructure for people and nature in a post-industrial landscape	£446,865
Neath Port Talbot	Digital Bridges -Bridging the Digital Divide	£315,251
Neath Port Talbot	JOBSTART	£510,000
Neath Port Talbot	Neath Port Talbot Third Sector Grant Scheme	£510,000
Neath Port Talbot	Next Steps – Employability Support and Work Experience	£509,543
Neath Port Talbot	Supporting Business Growth and Innovation	£120,715
Newport	Business Support in Pillgwenlly	£60,741
Newport	Development of Welsh Institute of Digital Information (WIDI), Research and Development Centre in Newport	£745,617
Newport	Foot in the Door	£858,642
Newport	Greening Maindee	£176,480
Newport	Newport 360	£408,642
Newport	Sgiliau	£335,457
Newport	Young Enterprise Newport	£217,389
Pembrokeshire	Climate Adaptation – Addressing climate risks in Pembrokeshire’s Communities	£50,175
Pembrokeshire	Developing the Pembroke Town Walls Management Plan	£119,484
Pembrokeshire	Ecosystem Enterprise Partnership – Building Natural Solutions	£142,943
Pembrokeshire	ESP – Enterprise & Skills Pembrokeshire	£1,388,102
Pembrokeshire	Feasibility Study – Winter Toursim in North East Pembrokeshire	£242,835
Pembrokeshire	Passion & Parking at Freshwater West – working together for a sustainable future	£61,342
Pembrokeshire	Pembrokeshire Open to All	£78,465
Pembrokeshire	Resourceful Communities: Towards a wellbeing economy	£522,598
Pembrokeshire	Thrive Project	£316,950
Powys	Enterprise Powys	£217,389
Powys	Green Heart of Wales/Zero Carbon Mid Wales	£523,962
Powys	Montgomery Canal restoration feasibility	£336,666
Powys	Powys Community Skills Initiative	£764,863
Powys	Powys County Council – Go Green To Get Clean.	£408,000
Powys	Powys Localities Initiative	£428,232
Rhondda Cynon Taf	Connecting Teachers with Industry	£89,899
Rhondda Cynon Taf	Focus Enterprise RCT	£217,389
Rhondda Cynon Taf	Heel Your High Street	£624,121
Rhondda Cynon Taf	Ideas to Innovation (I2I)	£559,526
Rhondda Cynon Taf	Improving Deaf Awareness and supporting people with hearing loss in the Community	£67,626