The Warwickshire Skills Challenge: How can we meet it?

“Regions that successfully address the gaps in their skills base over the next decade will be the regions that succeed economically,” Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council.

The worlds of business and education will be brought together at Warwickshire County Council's fourth Skills Conference in March.

The Skills Conference will take place on Wednesday 7th March from 8am-10am (free buffet breakfast from 7.30am) at the National Agriculture & Exhibition Centre, Stoneleigh.

Its central focus will be how business and education can work together to improve the supply and demand of talented young people for the Warwickshire workforce.

The conference will reveal the latest forecasts for future Skills supply and demand in Warwickshire. It will also provide an overview of new initiatives and investment announced in the government’s latest Industrial Strategy.

Business speakers will include Peter Jarvis, managing director of Warwick-based, Contechs, which recently made The Sunday Times Top 300 for international sales. Peter will describe the problems he has in filling vacancies in his workforce and talk about new approaches he is trying to tackle shortages and what support he would like to receive from local schools, colleges and government.

Peter says: “We currently have nine technical apprentices working with us who at the end of their apprenticeship could well be much better off than many of their peers - debt-free, with six or seven years work experience in the industry, plus the opportunity to study for a degree, or even a masters’ degree. We currently have more than 300 vacancies and are working hard to spread the message to young people, teachers and those involved in giving careers advice, that modern engineering is a high tech, fast moving, exciting and rewarding career choice.”

To hear more from Peter, take a look at this short interview: warwickshire.gov.uk/skillsconference

The conference is free to attend but places must be booked in advance in light of last year's sell-out attendance.

Among subjects to be discussed will be: the impact of Brexit; the Skills Gap; current supply (with the very latest analysis); and potential changes ahead.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Leader of Warwickshire County Council says: "Regions that successfully address the gaps in their skills base over the next decade will be the regions that succeed economically. The aim of this conference is to get people from business and education together to discuss what we can do to bridge the skills gap now and in the future. To have a good supply of talented, well-trained, motivated young people coming through the education system to start careers in Warwickshire is in everybody's interests. We’re looking forward to an interesting and fruitful conference - if you’re a business or education provider interested in this topic, come along and join in this event!”

Another speaker at the conference will be Careers England chief executive Steve Stewart, who will discuss the new national careers strategy and the new requirements it makes for schools to work more closely with business.

There will also be a Q&A with a panel including a Lee Gray, headteacher of Studley High school, and representatives from business, a university and the local enterprise partnership.

To book a place at the event and view the full programme, please visit: warwickshire.gov.uk/skillsconference