C&W shaping future skills development

Coventry and Warwickshire is building more dynamic partnerships between employers and education providers to shape future skills development across the West Midlands and Warwickshire for years to come, according to a new report.

The newly launched West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) is the focus of this month’s SmartRegion report which contains findings from research and engagements contributed to by the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and other local and national business support organisations.

The LSIP highlights key issues relating to skills across Coventry and Warwickshire and the wider region, and also outlines key recommendations and actions to tackle skills gaps, and looking ahead to the next steps.

The Coventry and Warwickshire, Black Country, and Greater Birmingham & Solihull Chambers of Commerce have partnered to shape the first West Midlands and Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), funded by the Department for Education.

The Government approved the West Midlands and Warwickshire regional LSIP in the summer which will now be the crucial driver for the region to tackle labour and skills shortages with £10.4 million funding available.

After six months research and consultation with more than 1,000 employers, co-ordinated locally by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, three key priorities have been identified – confirming sector skills needs, leadership and management skills, and essential employment skills.

The next stage will involve collaboration between local partners across the region to leverage opportunities presented from the devolution of skills provision to the WMCA, and to work closely with the Further and Higher Education sectors to improve progression routes and graduate retention.

Craig Humphrey, Chief Executive at Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said “The LSIP is a timely opportunity to review the wider skills environment and to better align priorities across business, education, academia, and training providers.

“The LSIP has provided some good intelligence to date on business needs. We now look forward to continuing the partnership approach for the next stages of the LSIP, including the app, website, and development of the updated plan for 2024.”

Fay Winterburn, Lead Commissioner for Employability & Skills at Warwickshire County Council, said: “In Warwickshire, we are really looking forward to engaging in this exciting new era of skills provision for the region.

“Over the coming months, Local Skills Improvement Funding will allow local Warwickshire organisations to engage and maximise connections with FE institutions to ensure the LSIP achieves maximum impact for residents across the county.”

Cllr Kindy Sandhu, Portfolio Holder for Education & Skills at Coventry City Council, added: “We have undertaken detailed mapping of Coventry’s skills offer as part of the LSIP work. This has helped define key courses for businesses, centralising and simplifying information on available provision.

“We are responding through our Skills Strategy Framework for Action Groups, focusing on growing leadership and management training, increasing Coventry’s green skills provision and ensuring key soft skills are built into a wide range of skills courses.

“In addition, we are working with FE colleges on the Local Skills Improvement Fund to strengthen college provision in response to the business needs identified in the LSIP.”