CORNWALL Marine Network has been recognised for its outstanding training provision to the marine sector at a prestigious awards ceremony.

The annual Cornwall Works WISE awards celebrate excellence in employment and skills activity across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Cornwall Marine Network (CMN) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to increasing the Cornish marine industry's prosperity through specialist training and marketing support.

It scooped its latest accolade for both the work-based training it delivers to CMN member businesses and for its engagement with Cornwall's young people through watersports training programmes.

Paul Wickes, CMN's Chief Executive, said: "While our marine members identified a skills gap in the industry, they also experienced barriers preventing employees from pursuing existing training. They wanted to undertake skills training but were excluded because it meant too much time for staff away from the business resulting in lost productivity and increased costs. Cornwall Marine Network has developed a means of achieving qualifications in the workplace, with costs supported by ESF Convergence funding. So when these traditional barriers to engagement are overcome, the skills benefits can be realised."

As a result the number of Cornish marine employees completing NVQ Level 2s has increased from 30 per year in 2007 to 250 every year.

Within the last two years CMN has also actively engaged more than 1000 14-19-year-olds in marine vocational experience through motivational training and apprenticeship schemes. The pioneering scheme is run by CMN's Cornwall Marine Academy and delivered by its watersports members to equip young people with confidence, life skills and industry recognised qualifications.

These training models have been upheld as examples of best practice and are generating interest both in the UK and abroad. Its sister network Maritime Plymouth has teamed up with CMN to create the newly-formed South West Marine Academy. This will roll out the training programme, generating opportunities and benefits to marine businesses across the South West.

The Cornwall Works WISE awards highlight the important role that the European Social Fund (at present through the ESF Convergence Programme) is playing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The ceremony, held at the Headland Hotel in Newquay, was organised by the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Jobcentre Plus and the Skills Funding Agency.

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership office, said that thousands of people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have better prospects today having received ESF support.

She added: "The 2010 Cornwall Works WISE awards give us the chance to celebrate the people and organisations that have really made a difference through training and skills and are an inspiration to us all in shaping and reshaping our futures."

July 2010

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