Keith Burnley, Executive Director, NWUA Maximising the Opportunities and Benefits of closer collaboration between Business and Higher Education

NWUA Members The University of Bolton University of Central Lancashire University of Chester Cumbria Institute of the Arts Edge Hill University Lancaster University The University of Liverpool Liverpool Hope University Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts -Liverpool John Moores University -The University of Manchester -Manchester Metropolitan University -The Open University in the North West -University of Salford -St. Martin’s College -The Royal Northern College of Music Cumbria and St Martin’s merging to form the University of Cumbria

Context Lambert Review Leitch Review Regional Economic Strategy –Vision ‘A dynamic, sustainable international economy which competes on the basis of knowledge, advanced technology and an excellent quality of life for all…

HEI Main Activity RESEARCH TEACHING KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

The Offer to Employers RESEARCH Knowledge Transfer Partnerships Collaborative Research & Development Student Placement Training, workforce development & continuing professional development Consultancy Taught Masters TEACHING KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER Access to specialist facilities Employer involvement in course design

Regeneration and Development Funding for HEIs in the North West (2005 data) Source of Funding Amount £(‘000s) 1.ERDF income18,080 2.ESF income6,421 3.UK Government regeneration funds1,051 4.RDA programmes (NWDA)15,456 5.Other regeneration grants and income from local and regional bodies503 6.Other378 TOTAL41,889 Source: Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey (HEFCE 2006) Funding

Business Support and Innovation Areas of activity:  Developing business (SMEs / niche sectors)  Creation and Establishment of Entrepreneurial Business Starts  Developing the Regional Knowledge Economy: Supporting Business Innovation and Networking  Developing Strategic Employment Opportunities Programme:  147 HEI-led projects  £116.5 million (approx €172 million) ERDF investment to date  7,800 SMEs assisted  Over 2,600 new innovations (products/processes/ways of working)* * Figures only for Objective 2 projects European Funding

Skills / Training Areas of activity (measures/themes):  Supporting SMEs  Developing higher-level skills  Entrepreneurship  Lifelong learning  Social inclusion Programme:  293 HEI-led projects (excluding research)  £39.5 million (approx €58 million) ESF investment  Over 40,000 individual project beneficiaries*  4,300 companies assisted with skills training*  13,000 people working towards a qualification* * Figures only for completed projects European Funding

Impacts of activity* (1): Jobs  Creating 5,040 jobs for the region  Safeguarding over 5,300 jobs within regional SMEs  Assisting at least 1,500 unemployed people into employment and 1,500 unemployed people in education  Support the up-skilling of 12,000 people to gain employment / protect their jobs / career development / meet localised or regional skills shortages *Results from claims submitted to March Further results expected within 2000–06 programme European Funding

Impacts of Activity* (2): Business and Economic growth  £482 million increased sales / turnover generated within regional SMEs  £346 million sales / turnover safeguarded within regional SMEs  256 business start-ups supported PLUS  55 spin out companies supported *Results from claims submitted to March Further results expected within 2000–06 programme European Funding

Higher Level Skill Pathfinder

Background (1) Regional Economic Strategy –Skills and education ‘…Level 4 and 5 skills are required for growth in the knowledge economy. However, the region has fewer people with level 4 skills than the England average. Although the training of new graduates and their retention is high, the proportion of the existing workforce with the higher level skills required for the knowledge economy is inadequate.’

Background (2) Today over 70% of the workforce for 2020 has already completed their compulsory education Leitch set an objective to exceed 40% of adults qualified to level 4 and above by 2020, up from 29% in 2005 One of the aims of the Leitch Review is to increase employer investment in level 3 and 4 qualifications in the workplace

HEFCE Objectives Embed HE in employer workforce development and skills strategies regionally, sectorally and nationally Embed workforce development and skills in HE providers’ strategies Promote greater co-funding of HE provision by employers

North West Aims Increase demand from employers for higher level skills provision Increase employer engagement in HEIs and FECs Increase the capacity of HEIs and FECs to respond to employer demand for higher level skills Test the level of funding employers are prepared to contribute for development and delivery of this provision

North West Model Two main aspects to the NW model –Brokerage Business Support brokerage Skills brokerage –Development of Provision Reactive – in response to demand identified through the brokerage Proactive – through partnerships with SSCs, employers etc…

North West Model Brokerage Through the LSC Train to Gain Skills Brokers Or Through Business Link Brokers working on wider business support activity

North West Model NWUA support for Train to Gain Skills Brokers and IDB Brokers: –4 Specialist HE Advisors –Online searchable database of current HE provision –Training of brokers to increase knowledge of HE

North West Model Development of Provision –Reactive : when needs are identified by brokers they will work with the specialist advisors to link to HEIs / FECs interested in meeting this need –Proactive : 4 sectors identified for initial focus Advanced Engineering and Materials Creative and Digital Industries Business and Professional Services Construction

North West Model Development of Provision –Four sector panels convened involving SSCs, NWDA, SSPAs and LSC –Panels produced guidance and issued call for proposals, then assessed proposals and agreed funding –Panels will also consider funding developments which emerge from the brokerage activity –Funding available includes development money and ASNs

Employer Engagement Current HEI / FEC links with employers Through Train to Gain or NW Business Link activity Through SSCs –Focus on SSCs for whom higher level skills are important to their sector e.g. Skillset, e- Skills, Skillfast-UK, Construction Skills, FSSC –Higher level skills aspects drawn from SSAs