As the recession continues to bite, companies throughout the South Yorkshire region are dealing with the challenge of needing top level workforce and management skills but are struggling to find the right people with those skills in the local labour market. And individuals who have lost their jobs or who are at risk of redundancy also need the right kind of training and development to help them successfully move into the job opportunities on offer.

In response to this, the city's two universities - Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield - have teamed up to make a successful bid to the Higher Education Funding Council for England's Economic Challenge Investment Fund (ECIF). When matched with an equal contribution from Yorkshire Forward, this creates a £1.6 million investment programme aimed at providing advice and guidance to unemployed and at risk employees, particularly those with management, professional or technical experience, or seeking first level entry to high level skills development, as well as support for graduate enterprise activities and consultancy support for business.

In conjunction with Higher Futures - the city region's life-long learning network - which includes ten further education colleges - the universities will provide professional support and guidance, access to training and new skills, and expert consultancy and academic advice.

Professor Mike Smith, pro-vice chancellor for research and knowledge transfer at Sheffield Hallam University, said, 'Gaining this funding is a great achievement by the city's two universities and is recognition of our strong track record in working together with business and the wider community to help improve the fortunes of the city region.'

Professor Smith added, 'This money will enable the two universities to increase their support to companies to protect themselves from the economic downturn, by providing consultants and experts to help with organisational and business improvements.

'The money will also help people wanting to enter higher education, learn new skills, refresh and develop existing skills, and consider new career opportunities.'

The scheme will work alongside other business support programmes to provide a comprehensive advisory service to businesses and people at risk of redundancy, as well as helping people into higher education to boost their qualifications and open up new opportunities.

The money will also help support student and graduate entrepreneurs to engage with communities to start-up social enterprises and new businesses.

Professor Paul White, pro-vice chancellor for learning and teaching at the University of Sheffield, said, 'This is a wonderful example of two universities coming together to share their skills and expertise in order to meet the needs of the local community during a period of recession. The University of Sheffield is committed to supporting the social and economic development of our local community and it is hoped this new funding will go a long way to help individuals and businesses who have been affected by the economic downturn.'

Anyone interested in finding out more about the project should contact the Enterprise Centre  at Sheffield Hallam University.