Page 12 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

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1.1 Purpose
This Employment and Skills Plan for South West and Mid Wales has been developed between January and July 2017 with the aim of informing and supporting the Welsh Government’s (WG’s) strategic approach to the delivery of employment and skills provision.
As one of three Regional Skills Partnerships (RSPs) in Wales, we are at the centre of WG’s skills policy, working to support WG in the delivery of a post-16 learning environment which remains fit for purpose and sets Wales ahead of other UK nations and internationally.
To coincide with the Regional Learning and Skills Partnership’s (RLSP’s) geography this plan supports the work of the economic areas of the Swansea Bay City Region (SBCR) and the Growing Mid Wales (GMW) partnership, carefully detailing and considering the respective priorities for those areas. As identified in the previous plan both areas are unique in their labour and economic profiles which are significantly affected by their differing geographies, where possible this has been considered within this plan.
In alignment with 2016’s iteration, we will once again aim to influence the key curriculum areas of Apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, and the further education landscape. However, additional focus will be placed on such factors as;
• Taking consideration of the well-being indicators published to assess the impact of the WGs work in relation to the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.
• Ensuring regional Labour Market Information (LMI)1 as detailed in the plan will inform the delivery of employability provision in the region as part of the All Age Employability Programme.
• Further emphasis on the role of the Welsh Language in the economy, detailing the demand for Welsh language skills from industry.
• To identify the skills requirements of the Green economy in accordance with supporting Green Growth and innovation.
1.2 Process
Adopting a phased approach to the development of the plan has allowed the RLSP to maximise engagement and consultation with a range of stakeholders whose views have been considered essential to the development of this plan.
1.2.1 Phase one - Determining Demand
Phase one sees the development of a number of industry cluster groups with which the RLSP has extensively engaged. These cluster groups consist of key employers from across the region representing a range of different business demographies and whose main business activity aligns with differing sub-sectors of their respective industries. These cluster groups represent the following sectors (which have been deemed of significant priority to the region of South West and Mid Wales);
• Advanced Materials and Manufacturing and Energy,
• Construction,
• Creative Industries,
• Financial and Professional Services and ICT,
• Food and Farming,
• Health and Social Care,
• Leisure, Tourism and Retail.
1 Labour market information includes all quantitative or qualitative data and analysis related to employment and the workforce.
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Purpose