Our Aims

We will improve the skills and employment opportunities for the people of Boscombe.

How we will achieve our aims?

Better Boscombe will be supporting local businesses and start-ups to set up and remain in the area, creating a vibrant town with opportunities for new jobs.

We'll achieve this by increasing the amount of high-quality, affordable commercial floor spaces to suit all types of businesses.

We are also investing in our existing skills and learning centres, such as TOSH and Kings Park Activity and Learning hub. This will make it easier for our residents to improve their skills and increase their chances of gaining employment.

As part of our exciting renovation of the Royal Arcade we will bring back into use the vacant floor space to create jobs and provide an attractive place to shop, work, eat and visit, using the first floor for skills and learning which will be part of a network of similar facilities across Boscombe.

Following our purchase of the lease of the Kings Park bowling centre, we're working with the community to establish a wider range of health, well-being and recreation activities. The first floor will continue to offer a wide range of skills and learning for all.

 

Projects under this theme:

• Digital skills, Innovation and Learning hub (DSILH), Boscombe
• Kings Park Activity and Learning hub
• The Old School House (TOSH)
• Toft Steps Beach Box Park

Where we are now

Digital skills, Innovation and Learning hub (DSILH), Boscombe

The Boscombe Skills hub is being planned to provide the following skills and learning, training and support. The facility will be based on the ground floor of the Royal Arcade from Spring 2023 and will provide the following:

• Hub concierge and signposting service
• Virtual skills platform (website)
• Digital learning rooms
• Digital tech incubator / accelerator
• Digital tech lab and showroom

This will mean that everyone from new learners to start-up businesses will be offered support, skills training and flexible work spaces.

Kings Park Activity and Learning hub

We have purchased the lease of the Kings Park Activity and Learning hub and are working with the community to establish a wider range of health, well-being and recreation activities, retaining the first floor for skills and learning. This project is being delivered with partners including Dorset Skills and Learning, Poole and Bournemouth College and AECC University.

The Old School House (TOSH)

This project will fund improvements to the windows, heating and insulation of the building, so more people can use it as a flexible work-space in this former schoolhouse and listed building.

Toft Steps Beach Box Park

The Beach Box Park project will create a health, sports and wellness hub on the seafront.

Work will begin during Spring 2023 for the current temporary buildings on site to be replaced with three timber clad converted shipping containers with a green “living roof” to blend into the coastal landscape. Current public toilets will be refurbished and there will be a hard-standing area for a free-standing unit. These units will be rented out on a short-term basis for health and fitness themed business start-ups, creating new jobs in Boscombe.