A series of taster sessions for the upcoming Bloxwich Launchpad centre that’s currently under construction have been announced this week.

The free sessions will be held at Bloxwich Library from 15 October through to December 2024 and will provide an insight into the support and services that will be available when Bloxwich Launchpad opens its doors in Spring 2025. 

The new digital access centre and business incubator will be housed in the former Bloxwich Post Office on Market Place, with the building currently undergoing refurbishment.

The centre will offer support and training for people to increase their digital skills and employability, and the first floor will also serve as a business incubator for people with a business idea they need support with, or small businesses that need help to grow.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, Associate Leader of Walsall Council, said: “There’s a wide range of taster sessions on offer from our delivery partners and I hope to see lots of people getting involved. The feedback from these sessions will help us to shape the support that will be on offer when Bloxwich Launchpad opens in spring 2025.

“Engagement with the community showed a need for basic digital skills support, as well as more specialist areas including the use of AI and other emerging technologies. We have selected a diverse range of delivery partners and will work with them to ensure that the service meets the needs of local people.”

James Norris, Assistant Principal of Walsall College, said: “We are delighted to be involved in the Bloxwich Launchpad programme and look forward to working with partners to shape a service that’s right for the community.

“We will be delivering a series of taster sessions around cyber security and AI to compliment the sessions from partners, which cover a wide range of digital and employability skills. 

“It’s so important to have services like these that are centrally located for people to access training and skills support, and I hope the taster sessions provide a useful insight into the services available.”

The project is part of the Bloxwich Town Deal and has received Government Town Deal funding as part of the £25 million in total that has been secured for Bloxwich.

Bloxwich Launchpad taster sessions are free and open to everyone and are being held at Bloxwich Library from week commencing 14 October 2024 until the end of the year.