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Sue Francis Solent Skills Development Zone Rachel Hawkins Jobcentre Plus. Vision. Fully integrated ‘Employment & Skills Escalator’. Key Principles. ‘Demand Driven’ by the needs of local labour market A key contributor to the City and Sub Regional Growth Strategy
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Sue Francis Solent Skills Development Zone Rachel Hawkins Jobcentre Plus
Vision Fully integrated ‘Employment & Skills Escalator’
Key Principles • ‘Demand Driven’ by the needs of local labour market • A key contributor to the City and Sub Regional Growth Strategy • Increasing Gross Value Added (GVA) • Balancing Economic Competitiveness & Social Justice
Key Elements • Integrating employment and skills activities (mostly public funded) • Provision of a single ‘offer’ and entry point for employers • Retaining those who have developed skills in Southampton for the benefit of the City economy • Better value and results through collaborative working
Development • Strategic Steering Group • Southampton Solent University Vice-Chancellor (Chair) • Chief Executives: • Southampton City Council • NHS Southampton City • Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust • Jobcentre Plus District Manager • Learning and Skills Council Area Director • Southampton Public Sector Pilot
Delivery • From Autumn 2009 • Employment and Skills Programme • Three project strands: • Worklessness & Newly Unemployed • Apprenticeships • Graduate Retention • Task focused Operations Group • Delivery Partnership: • Public; Private; Education; Third sectors • Collaborative working model
Challenges • Private Sector Expansion - Apprenticeships • Provider Engagement • Collaborative working in a competitive market • Development of the single ‘offer’ • Development of the single entry point • Capturing outputs and outcomes
Ongoing Challenges • Collaborative working in a competitive market • Measuring added value and success • Key Personnel changes • Maintaining high level ‘buy in’ • Maintaining link to City strategic priorities • Maintaining link to sub-regional priorities • Employer Engagement
A measure of success “It is easier to recruit in Southampton because services are more joined up” Construction Sector Employer Focus Group (May 2012)
Further Information • Sue Francis Solent Skills Development Zone 023 8084 2919 07710 609741 sue@thehampshireconnection.com • Rachel Hawkins Jobcentre Plus 023 8053 8833 07920 783866 rachel.hawkins@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk