A strategic partnership between the University of Glamorgan and University of Wales, Newport.

1. STICKY CLUSTERS ‘Using sectoral business clusters to stimulate employer engagement and academic programme development in UHOVI to meet learner needs and local employment opportunities’ A strategic partnership between the University of Glamorgan and University of Wales, Newport. Dr Francis Cowe – UHOVI Deputy Director Richard Staniforth - UHOVI UK STEM Coordinator UK STEM Project: STEM Employer Engagement and Workforce upskilling in the South Wales Valleys

2. UHOVI A strategic partnership between University of Glamorgan and University of Wales Newport Targeted area of multiple disadvantage across Heads of the Valleys (31 Communities First areas) across five counties: Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taff UHOVI Delivery Campuses: The College Merthyr Tydfil Coleg Gwent, Ebbw Vale [Pontypool, Crosskeys] The College Ystrad Mynach [Rhymney] Coleg Morgannwg Nantgarw [Rhondda,Pontypridd, Aberdare ] & 30+ Community Delivery Venues

3. UK STEM Project Aims (Nov 2010) • “The Project will focus on determining the level 3/ 4+ requirements of STEM employers in South East Wales Heads of the Valleys area.” • STEM sectors addressed by UHOVI in the time frame • Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences • Automotive Technology and Engineering • Sustainable Construction and Surveying • Food manufacture processing and delivery • Digital media and Games Project Outcomes (September 2012) UHOVI’s is continuing to focus its employer engagement strategy on building ‘Sticky’ clusters of businesses to deliver workforce up-skilling across Welsh Government’s nine Key Sector Priority areas.

4. Sticky Clusters Why adopt a cluster approach? Employer • Clear voice – High level profile • Reflecting Innovation and Centres of Excellence • Sector specific/Industry defined delivery • Collaborate to compete through common interest • Critical mass to generate learners addressing skills gaps University academic and training provision • Academic collaboration to a shared approach to employer needs • Reflecting Innovation and Centres of Excellence • Shared & flexible approach to learning content • Quality driven academic offer from Bite-size to FD/Level 4+ • React to Welsh Government Sector Priorities A replicable model to approach multiple business sectors

5. Case Study – UHOVI Pharmaceutical & Medical Cluster (by Company and HE) The Pharmaceutical Companies: Biotec, Brecon Pharmaceuticals, Flexicare, GE , Norgine, Penn Pharma, Polymer Health Providers: UHOVI (Glamorgan & Newport), Cardiff Met, Swansea, Cardiff University School of Pharmacy, OU Wales;

6. The Information Request (IR): Defining Cluster Strategic needs IR more than a TNA… A ‘whole sector’ snapshot • A Confidential company strategic review - current/future plans • Sector analysis – encouraging employer visibility to: academia, students, employee pool, community & government • Ambassadorial – pull rather than push – ‘Seeing in’ initiative • Current & Projected skills needs from senior managers? • Shape of sector workforce by accredited level and role? • Existing company training, non/accredited (?) academic levels and progression, CPD, APEL, industry standards • Tailoring delivery e.g. WBL, day release, distance • Understanding sector cultural v. academic culture

7. Issues addressed • Breaking down boundaries – Joining up the dots Inter-company confidentiality/competition issues • Benefits of collaboration – critical mass • Sustainable way forward • Sectoral pressure group Inter-institution competition • ‘Brokering’ a successful collaborative outcome • Very local delivery – academics’ workloads • Student numbers/caps – flexibility through UHOVI

8. Sustainability? • UHOVI retention of role as FE/HE ‘broker’ • Development of bespoke – tailored offering • Utilise available support (ESF-ERDF-WG): - • UHOVI – DEHOV (UoG – UWN) – HOVEP - ESF (APT) • Go Wales – Elevate – REACT – KTP – SIP • Develop existing UHOVI 20% STEM take-up • Increase 16-19 and bite-size offer • Develop sustainable progression routes • Build FE &HE Collaboration - core & specialist

9. Specialist Support? • UHOVI IR identified specific unfulfilled ‘gap’ • Skills training either expensive or from abroad • Bespoke – tailored offering developed working with Universities of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea • Utilise skills from individual trained experts • Establish a local high specification base • Seeking to offer training locally and UK • Build further Collaboration - core & specialist

10. Community Organisations and Learning Provision in the HOV Report Finding: “By linking with local businesses … UHOVI would be able to offer a truly unique service … which has responded to local need and demand to up-skill the local workforce and boosts individuals employability, making the local workforce more attractive to businesses. If done properly this has the potential to provide a positive regenerative impact on the area.” Crew – Centre for Regeneration Excellence Wales Report (2011)

11. Thank you www.uhovi.ac.uk francis.cowe@newport.ac.uk richard.staniforth@uhovi.ac.uk UHOVI Crownford House/ Ty Crownford Swan Street /Stryd yr Alarch Merthyr Tydfil/ Merthyr Tydful CF47 8ES Tel – 01685 726186 /0800 -1223220