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 “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 Bill Munn - Director, Thomas Vale ConstructionAlex Cormack – Director, Rockline Industries Ltd Niall Quinn - HR Director, Goodrich UTCKay Dovey – Head of HR, Festival Housing Louise Hewitt – MD, Hewett RecruitmentPatrick Jones - Manager, Menzies Hotels Warren Gray – MD, Machined Component Systems PLC Sean Austin – VP, Kerry Ingredients Ltd Chris King – Headteacher, Woodrush SchoolEileen Stead – Manager, King Charles I School Jane Potter – Cabinet Member, WCCMark Richardson – University of Worcester Stuart Laverick – Principal, Worcester CollegeJohn Callaghan – Principal, NEW College

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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