WeLearnLocal
A new citywide project has been launched which aims to get hundreds of people learning and skill-sharing across Coventry this summer.
WeLearnLocal is leading a major skill-sharing initiative supported by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Coventry University Social Enterprise, Coventry Libraries Service and City College Coventry.
The Coventry start-up has launched welearnlocal.co.uk – an online hub for learning opportunities for adults in the city.
Vast opportunities will range from business, professional insight, digital skills and health, through to hobby skills, arts and crafts, wellbeing, language, culture, and music.
Throughout August and September, the hub will be hosting the a citywide summer of skill-sharing, whereby people living in the region will be able to use the website to search for lessons being taught in a range of venues across the city - including libraries, Coventry University campus and City College Coventry.
WeLearnLocal also supports instructors and skill-sharers by providing them with access to instruction space and taking care of promotion and advertising for their lessons.
Nick Maxwell, Founder of WeLearnLocal, said: “Coventry is a diverse and vibrant city and residents have a huge variety of skills, knowledge and talent to share.
“The WeLeanLocal website makes it easy to find great learning opportunities and makes it convenient for instructors to set up new classes.
“The initiative is all about being a champion for instructors, a gateway for learners and celebrating lifelong learning.
“We aim to connect people within communities through fun group lessons and empowering instructors to do what they do best – teach.
“Coventry already hosts two of the UK’s top universities and we all hope it will be UK City of Culture 2021. Our mission is to make Coventry the UK’s number one city for adult learning and skill-sharing.”
Support from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s start-up programme, helped Nick make his business idea a reality.
Nick added: “The Chamber was a great support in helping me get my project off the ground – from helping with marketing strategy, providing contacts that opened doors to promote my venture to assisting in sourcing trainers for the initiative.
“Most importantly, they introduced the Chamber’s training arm CWT to WeLearnLocal.”
The Chamber provides free guidance to start-ups through workshops and one-to-one mentoring part of Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Margaret Bull, business advisor at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber who worked closely with Nick, said: “WeLearnLocal is a unique business concept which has, in part thanks to our support, got off to the best start.
“Already working closely with the city’s educational institutions and raising the profile of smaller community groups, the initiative shows not only great promise as a business but also in evolving the landscape of educational opportunities in Coventry.
“We’re delighted to have helped Nick and are confident the Chamber’s training division will be a great addition to the WeLearnLocal network of skill-sharers.”
For more information about WeLearnLocal, visit www.welearnlocal.co.uk.
