Exceed in Coventry

Exploring the impacts of Brexit for protected food names (PFN) in the UK

Funder

European Social Fund

Value

£205,061 (not including CU matched funding contribution)

COLLABORATORS

Coventry City Council (Lead Project Partner)
Working Actively to Change Hillfields
Voluntary Action Coventry
Valley House
Vanny Radio Community Broadcasters
Coventry University Social Enterprise Hub

Project team

Sinead Ouillon, Programme Lead
Helen Lewis, Fab Lab Coordinator
Claire Corbey, Fab Lab Trainer / Assessor
Keith Jeffrey, Managing Director, CUSE
Gabriela Matouskova , Business Delivery Manager, CUSE
Daniel Range, Senior Research Assistant
David McIlhatton, Senior Research Fellow
Kelly Bogue, Research Assistant
Sharon Cartwright, Research Delivery Support Partner
Amy Arnold, Research Delivery Support Assistant

Project overview

What is Exceed in Coventry?

Exceed in Coventry is a three-year project providing tailored help and support to over 1,300 Coventry residents, enabling them to progress into education, training, job search or employment.

Exceed in Coventry is part-funded by the European Social Fund.

What is Coventry University's Role?

As a partner for ‘Exceed in Coventry’ the University is working with Coventry Refugee and Migrant Centre and other project partners to recruit and support BME communities into the project. In addition, Coventry University, City Council and Age UK Age Friendly City project is supporting the recruitment and support of individuals over 50 years of age.

Fab Lab Coventry is an informal city-centre space where Exceed participants can learn new skills, complete work experience projects and engage with local employers. Participants can choose from a range of entry level courses that are centred on advanced manufacturing and IT. Participants will also receive pre-employment support, including the opportunity to become trainers to deliver Fab Lab activity such as hosting a fix-it club / repair café. Participants can gain recognition for the engineering and technical skills they gain in the Fab Lab through an accredited OCN course: ‘Using Digital Fabrication Systems’.

Over the duration of the project, the University’s Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR) will train 90 participants as ‘Peer Engagement Volunteers’ who will work alongside the Progress coaches to support engagement. Whilst contributing to the overall success of the project, Peer Engagement Volunteers will also build their own confidence and abilities.

Coventry University Social Enterprise (CUSE) Community Interest Company (CIC) will provide access to support into self-employment through their Enterprise Hub.

How do I find out more?

Sinead Ouillon, Project Lead: s.ouillon@coventry.ac.uk
Fab Lab Coventry: info@fablabcov.org.uk