Harper Adams University awarded funding to support community enterprises in Telford & Wrekin

Posted 10 December 2025

The skills and capacity of community-led organisations serving Telford & Wrekin are set to be boosted thanks to a new fully-funded course at Harper Adams University.

The University has secured funding from Telford & Wrekin Council, via the Shropshire Community Foundation under the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, to deliver its Foundations of Project Management short course.

In total, 12 fully-funded places are being offered to voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the Borough, working in areas such as youth support, health, homelessness, mental health, food poverty, and environmental action.

In line with Harper Adams University’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, three places are reserved for cadet and reserve organisations supporting the Armed Forces community.

The five-week course begins on February 2 and concludes with a practical workshop using the Major Projects Association simulator, giving participants the chance to apply their learning in a real-world environment.

It follows a UKSPF-funded programme delivered earlier in 2025, through which 20 SME delegates gained new project management skills.

Evaluation showed every single participant on the course acquired new capabilities expected to benefit their organisations, with 75 per cent reporting direct career progression through promotion, expanded responsibilities, or increased confidence.

For community organisations - often operating with tight resources - structured project management, combined with strong communication, collaborative leadership and problem-solving skills can be the difference between projects which stall and those delivering long-term community impact.

Darren Jaundrill, Principal Lecturer in the Office of Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, will be delivering the course.

He said: “Project management isn’t just about ticking boxes.

“When teams have the right planning, delivery and life skills, they dramatically raise their chances of delivering meaningful impact for communities.

“That matters - especially in the VCSE sector, where delivery can truly change lives.”