Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (Dorset LEP) has been selected as a winner in the ‘Let’s Celebrate Towns’ national Awards for the work they are doing to benefit the community of Boscombe at the Digital Skills Hub.

The aim of the Awards, run by Visa and supported by the British Retail Consortium, is to showcase and celebrate the hundreds of Towns across the UK that are helping businesses and communities to thrive.

Kaoutar Addi, Partnership and Project Lead for the Digital Skills Hub, and Rebecca Davies, Head of Skills Strategy at Dorset LEP, were presented with the award at a special ceremony held at The House of Lords last week (13 March).

The Digital Skills Hub was up against 10 finalists in the ‘People and Skills’ award category and were selected as overall category winners.

This makes Boscombe just one of seven other towns nationwide selected as winners.

Each town was recognised for their contribution to driving growth in their local economy and community across four key categories: Business Environment, People & Skills, Infrastructure, and Sustainability.

Accepting the award and £15,000 prize in support of the work of the Digital Skills Hub in Boscombe, Rebecca Davies of Dorset LEP said: “Winning the ‘Visa – Let’s Celebrate Towns’ award will help shine a light on Boscombe and its diverse and creative community.

“We are proud of the difference the Digital Skills Hub is making to the people in the community of Boscombe and their skills; by actively enhancing digital literacy, boosting employability and helping people to confidently engage with the digital world in a safe and welcoming space.”

Kaoutar Addi, Project Lead for the Digital Skills Hub in Boscombe said: “It’s thanks to our funding partners – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council – that since July last year we have delivered a wide range of initiatives including ‘Community Connect Tuesdays’, Digital Skills Workshops and specialist sessions for those who English is not their first language.

“We are also working to help small local businesses through our free Business Connect Monday sessions to help share advice and guidance.

“We plan to use the prize funding to bring together Boscombe’s people and businesses by re-investing it directly back into a series of community-led projects under the theme of digital futures.”

To find out more about the Digital Skills Hub and what’s on visit their website here.

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