East Midlands Freeport Opens Skills and Community Equity Grants

Grants available for projects addressing skills gaps and employability within the Freeport travel-to-work area

East Midlands Freeport has opened its Skills and Community Equity Fund to support skills development, employability and access to opportunities linked to Freeport investment.

The fund offers grants for practical, time-limited and longer-term projects designed to help local people build skills, overcome barriers to training and employment and access routes into work connected to Freeport-related growth. Projects are expected to respond to evidenced skills gaps and address local needs within the East Midlands Freeport travel-to-work area.

Two types of grants are available:

• Standard grants: Up to £50,000 for time-limited projects focused on activities such as training, upskilling, employability and raising aspirations.
• Strategic grants: For longer-term or potentially multi-year projects that contribute to the Freeport’s skills and community objectives. Funding may exceed £50,000, subject to additional approval.

Applicants must be voluntary and community sector organisations or charities delivering projects that benefit people, communities or employers in the eligible area. Organisations based outside the travel-to-work boundary can apply, provided the project activity and beneficiaries are within the area.

Priority will be given to proposals supporting young people and those not in education, employment or training, underrepresented groups and people furthest from the labour market, as well as hard-to-reach groups and disadvantaged communities. Priority skills areas may include green skills, digital skills, engineering, leadership and project management where relevant to local demand and the proposed work.

Eligible activity can include promoting Freeport opportunities among communities facing disadvantage, supporting access to skills training and funded provision addressing sector gaps, raising aspirations and developing transferable skills and behaviours needed for Freeport-related roles.