Progressing from labour market intelligence reports to HE level provision that is well supported by employers Marchmont Observatory, Exeter University Universities of Bath, Exeter, Plymouth and UWE Further Education Colleges of Petroc and Weymouth Continuing Professional Development

Background CPD Office established at Bath with a focus on FEC courses at PG level in STEM areas Employer engagement seen as key to success but challenging -Time-consuming -‘Language’ barriers -Number of SMEs in region -HLSPP findings published -Supply and demand issues Looked to published information for a steer and recognised that there was a need to go beyond this

Project Aims To identify the barriers that employers in the engineering sector face in engaging with HEIs and the risks associated with planning STEM provision based on employer engagement To identify mechanisms by which institutions can more effectively sustain their relationships with engineering employers over the longer term There are a number of sub projects, one of which is being led by the University of Bath

University of Bath Sub Project A partnership for Engineering CPD, learning, training and knowledge exchange Collaborating with Wiltshire College, Swindon College and City of Bath College, recognising the potential strength a cooperative relationship can provide to employers in terms of the supply of knowledge and accredited learning across all levels (from NVQ1 to PhD)

Aims 1 To generate specific market information and intelligence about engineering employers’ training/CPD to understand more fully their behaviours and demands 2 3 To ascertain current levels of market penetration, overlaps and gaps in coverage by the University and the colleges To develop innovative and cooperative working between the University and the colleges such that it can better meet the wide needs of employers and can lead to sustainable engagement across the region and between the 4 institutions

What did we do? Identified a region/companies to be included in the research Acquired client data from all partners Developed a value proposition and a telephone questionnaire Targeted 435 companies - 50 took part and provided information on the composition of their workforces, anticipated growth strategies, training and development, and opportunities for working with the partners in the future Followed up with letters and circulated the findings of the research Carried out a number of visits which elicited richer and different information from the calls

Summary of findings Most companies’ workforces are not growing The focus is on existing clients’ needs and securing new business Developing the current workforce and promoting internal progression is a priority (rather than the employment of new staff) Training and learning increasingly needs to be work-based Regional suppliers able to provide skills, expertise and knowledge in partnership with employers are perceived to have clear benefits over suppliers based outside the region (except where specialist expertise is the reason for engaging them)

Recommendations Good opportunity for CPD (although this may be better termed learning or training) Dialogue and exchange of information with key decision makers is vital Many companies recruit staff from Bath, or sponsor staff on PG courses - these companies should be identified and formal links established The database should be maintained and developed as part of an ongoing campaign to work with this defined market Stronger links with the colleges’ marketing teams could be beneficial in terms of cost savings and productivity There is a defined and robust market but taking a planned approach to working with it will require resources

Next Steps To use the information to shape the development of our services and, possibly, extend the project to other sectors Getting Involved KTA-funded workshop: ‘Developing courses for commercial clients’ Wednesday 8 th February or