Monica Fogarty on Skills for Employment

Warwickshire County Council has invested £2 million in a programme to stimulate economic growth and add value to business and education collaboration. Here, Monica Fogarty, Strategic Director of the council’s Communities Group speaks about Skills for Employment.

Last year saw the economic outlook continue to improve in Warwickshire and the sub-region and that should have the consequence that many businesses will be looking to expand both their operations and their workforces this year.

Alongside that, we also had a record number of young people leaving further education and looking to take their first steps on the career ladder.

Through our work with businesses we know that hiring skilled staff can be a major challenge.  We also know that our schools and colleges are keen to ensure their students fulfil their potential when they leave education.

As they say, where there is a challenge, there is an opportunity.

Our aim is to position the emerging workforce to take advantage of the opportunities that we are creating with our inward investment, attracting companies to the area and encouraging those already here to grow.

We have spoken with businesses and one of the things that comes up repeatedly is the gap between the skills young people have and those that are needed when they start full-time employment.  If we are going to address this, we need to encourage stronger links between schools and colleges and the business community.

Warwickshire County Council has invested £2million in the 'Skills for Employment' programme which aims to add value to existing business and education collaboration.  We can all benefit from matching the skills to demand; employers and employees alike.  We will look at a range of ways in which we can increase the vocational skills of our young people, ally them to their academic skills and put them in a position that they are ready for the workplace when the time comes for them to enter it.

On March 6, we are holding a major skills conference for business leaders, schools, colleges and other providers to launch the first part of the programme.  Taking place at Stoneleigh Park, the aim of the conference is to develop how we work together to address skills shortages and prepare our young people for the world of work.

We expect a high turnout of head teachers, college principals, businesses and key partners such as the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Employer Partnership and would urge anyone who can join us to do so and play their part in this important work.

We will provide more details on the programme in future newsletters as well as on our website. If you would like to find out more about Skills to Employment or attend the conference on March 6,  please contact Glenn Robinson in the county council's economic growth unit at glennrobinson@warwickshire.gov.uk or call 01926 412566.