Hidden Talent in Devon and Somerset

Working with businesses in Devon and Somerset to improve access to higher education and unlock unrealised potential
Hidden Talent in Devon and Somerset

Are you a business with under 250 employees? Do you want to better motivate your team and increase employee retention? Are you looking to boost your staff capabilities?


The University of Plymouth offers FREE support to help with skills and training needs

Helping you...

  • 6 Attract and retain the best talent
  • 6 Excel in leadership and staff development
  • 6 Embed succession planning
  • 6 Increase productivity

Free taster courses

In partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses, we are offering a series of short taster courses which are FREE to businesses in Devon and Somerset. 

Courses are open to business owners/directors and their staff and cover areas such as:

  • Management Accounting for Non-Accountants
  • Getting the Best From Your Staff
  • Making Data Work for Your Business
  • E-commerce
  • Marketing.

Locations include Plymouth, Exeter, Torbay, Yeovil and Bridgwater.

For a full list of courses, please click here.

Free workplace needs assessments

Want to build your best team yet? Our skills analysis' are available to all SMEs in Devon and Somerset and are completely free of charge. 

With our industry-led approach, we can help you identify skills needs within your business and learn about our bespoke training solutions, enabling you to:

  • attract and retain the best talent
  • excel in leadership and staff development
  • embed succession planning. 

Find out more about free workplace needs assessments

Contact Enterprise Solutions on 0800 052 5600 or email: enterprisesolutions@plymouth.ac.uk 

What is Hidden Talent?

Hidden Talent in Devon and Somerset is a region-wide project which provides opportunities to unlock unrealised potential through improving access to higher education for individuals and businesses.

Supported by the European Social Fund, the project brings together educational partners across the region to deliver outreach, engagement and skills development activities to promote and encourage participation in higher level skills, regardless of ability or education level.

Running in tandem with the Strategic Employer Engagement project, Hidden Talent is open to all adult learners across Devon and Somerset who want to develop their employable skills, including employees of organisations in the private, public and voluntary sector.

Our activities

As a partner in the Hidden Talent project, the University of Plymouth is delivering a variety of activities through which individuals and businesses can engage with higher skills.

Key areas of focus include:

  • The development of new qualifications – higher and degree apprenticeships in chartered management, digital technology, healthcare and more.
  • Continuing professional development – to provide routes in for both employers and employees interested in undertaking higher-level skills.
  • Information, advice and guidance – one to one sessions designed to inform potential learners of how their identified training needs can be met.

Work-based degrees and higher apprenticeships

Helping employers develop, harness and focus the skills of emerging talent within their organisation whilst offering employees opportunity to pursue undergraduate degree qualifications alongside real-life work experience.

Industry-led, higher and degree apprenticeships to support business growth

Higher and degree apprenticeships with the University of Plymouth

Our partners