Page 25 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan 2019

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Undoubtedly, the wider implications of Brexit will place emphasis on the role of higher education institutions in their respective regions with the Cabinet Secretary for Education stating that Universities should ‘re-capture and re-invent [their] civic mission’ in light of Brexit. A piece of work commissioned by Universities Wales explored this and identified four areas where Universities could contribute, these are; changes in the economy, changes in the workforce, changes in wider society and increasing inequality.
Building on Welsh Universities’ strengths the piece indicates four possible roles that Universities could play;
• As ‘anchor’ institutions to strengthen local and regional economies;
• As beacons of expertise to support innovation of all kinds;
• As centres of flexible learning and
• As equalisers.23
2.5 Careers Advice, Guidance and Work Experience
Careers advice and guidance has the power to change the life course of individuals which substantiates the importance of ensuring that young people (beginning at primary age) have access to representative and meaningful advice at every stage of their education. Not only does it affect life outcomes but it also has significant implications for social mobility and gender equality. These themes are explored further in the individual sector profiles.
A leading report, authored jointly by educators and employers found that:
• The patterns of jobs chosen by 7 year olds mirror those selected by 17 year olds.
• Gender stereotyping about jobs is set from a young age.
• Family, TV, radio and film have the biggest influence on children’s choices.
• Children’s career aspirations have little in common with projected workforce needs, which could have
serious implications for the future’s economy. This would suggest that despite the best efforts of many organisations and various government interventions, there remains a challenge in attracting individuals to sectors where there is real need.24
RLSP research indicates that the perception of a given sector was identified as a challenge by 16% of survey respondents. However, it was discussed at length within cluster group sessions where it was apparent that it is clearly a significant issue and barrier to the recruitment and retention of desired individuals to certain industries. Industries where this was more prevalent include: Construction, Manufacturing and Engineering, Food and Land Based, Health and Social Care and Leisure and Tourism.
The issues extend further than sectoral perceptions and extend to actual learning routes, namely; apprenticeships. Apprenticeships are not promoted equally as viable alternatives for individuals looking to gain qualifications. Both primary evidence gathered by the RLSP and secondary evidence gathered indicates that employers are in search for learners with more practical and soft skills which they deem are not currently acquired by learners studying other learning routes. The issue of work-readiness is explored further in section 3.
23 https://41ydvd1cuyvlonsm03mpf21pub-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/ After-Brexit-HE-report-final-with-covers.pdf
24 https://www.educationandemployers.org/drawing-the-future-report-published/
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales
Policy Context