Page 21 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

2.15 Key Policy Responses in Wales
Policy development in Wales reflects the recurring themes in Europe and the UK, with a clear recognition of the role that sustainable employment and a skilled labour force can play in promoting both economic growth and poverty alleviation. Skills policy for Wales is primarily identified within the Skills Implementation Plan which highlights the significance of developing ‘skills system in Wales that supports our future competitiveness, helps us evolve into a highly skilled society as well as tackle poverty, and is sustainable against the backdrop of ever scarcer resources.’ The policy statement also reinforces the role of regional skills partnerships in identifying and responding to the skills challenges.
Co-investment is representative of the wider reform agenda required across the skills system in Wales to ensure it remains competitive and sustainable into the future. Implementing a co-investment policy is essential if we are to redress the financial pressures facing post-19 skills delivery in Wales. This includes the gap in employer investment in skills compared with the UK average.35
The emphasis on employment and growth as an important component of wellbeing is reinforced by the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act included under the theme of a more prosperous Wales; these priorities are also reflected in the Anti-poverty Action Plan, Child Poverty Strategy, and Welfare Reform Report, and in underlying programmes, such as Communities First and Families First.
Directly linked to the tackling poverty agenda is the devolution of the work programme. A review determined that its performance in Wales has been poorer than the UK average.37 This indeed poses issues for the national economy and in turn regional and local economies especially given that the majority of impacts are felt by those furthest away from the labour market. A call for the devolution of employment programmes to Wales poses both opportunities and threats. Through devolution there would be better alignment of skills provision to support unemployed people into sustained, meaningful employment. This would in turn build a stronger, sustainable economy locally and nationally.
However, ‘consideration of the potential to devolve all or part of the employment system, including the Work Programme, is a complex issue as it is intrinsically linked to the benefit system. Benefit regulations will remain a responsibility for UK Government, including the conditionality and sanctioning aspects of the programme.’38
Budgetary concerns also pose a challenge and are a key consideration. Potential financial implications on Wales require further assessment to ensure that the level of support that could be provided aligns with demands.39
The requirement to achieve more targeted and sustainable growth is highlighted within the Economic Prioritisation Framework for European funding; ‘in order to maximise the impact of EU funding more can be done to ensure that investments build on what has been achieved to date and are better joined up with other investments being made by the Welsh Government, the private sector and others.’40
The education policy landscape has undertaken a significant period of change and evolution which has seen the formation of regional educational consortia to support school improvement. Significant changes have been undertaken through the formation of Qualifications Wales to manage, oversee and regulate qualifications including those for 14-19 year olds.
The Donaldson review in particular highlights a number of areas of reform in terms of the education system in Wales. The overarching aim is to develop;
38 http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/gen-ld10378/gen-ld10378-e.pdf 39 http://www.assembly.wales/laid%20documents/gen-ld10378/gen-ld10378-e.pdf 40 http://gov.wales/funding/eu-funds/2014-2020/looking/epf/?lang=en
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Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Policy Context