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Investing in Worcestershire’s Workforce Connecting Business With Education

Investing in Worcestershire’s Workforce Connecting Business With Education. Worcestershire Employment & Skills Strategy Redditch Business Leaders Cllr Jane Potter, Cabinet Member for Education & Skills 7 th December 2012. Worcestershire Employment & Skills Board.

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Investing in Worcestershire’s Workforce Connecting Business With Education

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  1. Investing in Worcestershire’s Workforce Connecting Business With Education Worcestershire Employment & Skills Strategy Redditch Business Leaders Cllr Jane Potter, Cabinet Member for Education & Skills 7th December 2012

  2. Worcestershire Employment & Skills Board “Provide leadership on Employment & Skills in Worcestershire and champion investment in the workforce by the private sector” Plus advisors from the Skills Funding Agency, National Apprenticeship Service and Jobcentre Plus

  3. Worcestershire Employment & Skills Strategy • Six months of extensive consultation and development • Focus on small number of key areas to enable joint working • 100+ organisations from public and private sector involved • Key components: • Skills and Workforce Planning – increasing apprenticeships, improving talent management and increasing private sector investment in skills • Strengthening the relationship between schools and businesses – building a clearer picture of skills required and harnessing opportunities created under academy status • Increasing employability - addressing youth unemployment, developing graduate level opportunities and building better mechanisms to help small business to recruit locally • Adopted by Worcestershire LEP as part of Strategic Business Plan; initial delivery period up 2012-16

  4. Worcestershire Employment & Skills Strategy • 2016 Headline Targets • 10,000 apprenticeships created inc 40% increase in advanced apprenticeships • 5,000 individuals gain leadership & management qualifications • 1,000 new school work experience places created • Min of 50% High Schools working with employers on new curriculum activity • 25% reduction in youth unemployment (18-24yr olds) • 1250 SMEs supported to improve and invest in skills, recruitment and employment activity

  5. Worcestershire Employment & Skills Strategy • Key Activities: • Development of employer-led engineering skills academy (piloted initially in Redditch) • Establishment of new Cyber Security Professional Development Centre • Launch of The Worcestershire Employer Skills Commitment • Development of a Worcestershire Work Experience Programme • Establishment of Worcestershire Business Central

  6. Connecting Business With Education What Have Businesses Said? • Lack of ‘work ready’ students entering the labour market • Insufficient engagement by schools with businesses • Curriculum content is not reflective of world of work • Unclear what schools want from employers – it is more than just cash!

  7. Connecting Business With Education It’s Not Straightforward.....! • Schools are increasingly autonomous organisations • National curriculum means limited free space in the weekly timetable (mandatory subjects have priority) • Schools now have responsibility for careers guidance and work experience for their students • Schools say businesses have not articulated what they want or can offer!

  8. Connecting Business With Education What Does The Strategy Focus On? • Development of a new streamlined Worcestershire Work Experience Programme (piloted by Malvern Instruments) • Establishment of school-business partnerships to develop key curriculum areas – STEM, computer science, design technology, enterprise, finance • New careers guidance framework for high schools • Governor recruitment campaign to increase business representation on school boards • Business-led INSET Teacher Development Sessions

  9. Connecting Business With Education Moving Forward • Business cases for each element of the strategy are being developed for the ESB to approve • Investment and support being developed through WASH • Key challenges: • How can we make it easier for employers to get engaged? • What do you want from local high schools, given the restrictions they face? • What can you offer as partners

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