Page 18 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

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2.10 The Policy Context
The policy landscape provides an important backdrop to the development of this plan. It is quite comprehensive, covering a range of relevant themes at the European, UK, Welsh, and local levels, from economic growth opportunities to youth unemployment.
Figure 3: Overview of the policy landscape influencing SW & MW
Europe UK Wales
European Structural Ivestments 2014-2020
Regional Local
Investment Plan for Europe Horizon 2020
UK Industrial Strategy
City Deals
Skills Implementation Plan
School Improvement Plan
Anti-poverty and Welfare Plans
Youth Engagement and Progression Framework
Future Generations & Well-being Act
European Social Fund
Swansea Social Fund
City Deals
Growing Mid Wales Partnership
Local Strategies Within
Powys Ceredigion Swansea Carmarthenshire
Pembrokeshire Neath Port Talbot
2.11 The Rural Challenge
The geography of large areas of South West and Mid Wales is classified as rural with very low population densities and poor access to services. This has a significant impact on the equality of opportunity for individuals in these rural areas and remains a barrier in accessing skills. This can include higher costs for providers delivering training including apprenticeships and also significant challenges relating to the recruitment and retention of trained staff.
Although each area and county has its’ own mix of challenges there are a number of specific issues faced by Mid Wales including:
• Equality of access – there are significant barriers for people living in Mid Wales to access training and employment, such as transport and infrastructure.
• Lack of Diversity – the range of jobs are not available in rural Mid Wales which results in people moving away from the area to work. The employment can also be very seasonal; temporary or part time due to the high dependence on the service sector; public sector and tourism industry.
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Policy Context