More than 250 businesses benefit from Fay's first year as Business Skill Advisor
Last May, Warwickshire County Council appointed Fay Winterburn as Business Skills Advisor in response to a growing need from businesses for clear advice and support to help them address skills shortages. Fay's first year in post has been extremely busy and very productive, including the creation of more than 130 apprenticeships - but she has only just begun...
Warwickshire County Council's Economy & Skills team members are constantly out and about among the county's business community, finding out exactly what sort of support they most need.
Last year it became increasingly clear that one of the most pressing problems facing many businesses was that of skills shortages. Companies were finding it difficult to identify and access ways to recruit the skilled employees they need - and that was forming a barrier to growth.
It was, and remains, a problem requiring specific and focused attention. So the county council responded by creating a brand new role to focus exclusively on helping business fill their skills gap. In May 2017, Fay Winterburn was appointed as Business Skills Advisor.
It was a job to which Fay brought considerable knowledge and experience from a lifelong interest and involvement in business, latterly from a career with the likes of Midlands Training & Development and CWT Chamber Training.
Her brief is broad, to engage with businesses large and small throughout the county and lead in skills conversations. Fay has tackled it with an energy and passion from which more than 250 companies have already benefited - but she is only just getting started.
"I love the job because Warwickshire has got such a brilliantly diverse business community," she said. "I visit a lot of companies and no two are ever the same and with so much support and advice on offer from ourselves and partner organisations we are able to discuss a wide variety of skills-related opportunities.
"Some of the hot topics right now are training programmes to upskill employees, university internships and post-graduate schemes. But work experience and employment placement opportunities are emerging as a relatively new theme.
"More businesses are automatically turning to apprenticeships, most of all in business administration and engineering, as part of their recruitment process. That is great but conversations are now also increasingly covering which other talent would benefit either the short-term or long-term skill requirements of the business.”
Engaging with so many businesses during her first year has enabled Fay to identify specific patterns and recurring themes and challenges business owners and managers.
"Businesses face a range of challenges so we need to offer a range of potential solutions," Fay said. "It is a real collective effort. As a council, we work closely with various organisations within the education and training sectors, like Job Centres and strategic partners such as Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.
"There are great opportunities to collaborate in providing a provision and supportive services that evolve with the businesses' natural progression. The launch of our brand new skills campaign Tackling Skills Shortages brings together all that collaborative work, so this is a very exciting time."
Businesses have reported that they appreciate Fay’s proactive approach to business support. She is keen to listen to their needs and works enthusiastically alongside them to address bridging their skills gaps whilst building skills and recruitment plans to support the businesses' future development.
Warwickshire County Council head of economy & skills David Ayton-Hill said: "Fay has done a fantastic job in helping businesses to understand the various contracts and training opportunities on offer. She has a really thorough knowledge of all the options and can offer business advice tailored to each business's own objectives and needs."
* If you would like to talk to Fay please get in touch at Faywinterburn@warwickshire.gov.uk