Page 6 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

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• The ever-increasing commercial nature of educational providers has taken the focus away from the provision itself with providers becoming more concerned with the quantity rather than the quality of learners. Alleviating this commercialisation would increase social conscience and place the focus back on the learner and develop true collaboration between the sector and training providers.
• The views in the recently published ‘Modernise or Die: The Farmer Review of the UK Construction labour model’ set out the need for the construction industry to change in line with differing construction demands. Similar goals should be set for the education and training sector in partnership with the construction employers with identified needs within areas such as, work experience, mentoring, civil engineering operatives, multi skilling, technical and professional apprenticeship progression which are currently being addressed outside of the main traditional core training routes.
Creative Industries
• Develop staff to transition into work to develop new skills.
• Ensure that the supply meets demand and that the training meets industry requirements e.g. ICT training
is changing quickly but the delivery is not moving as fast.
• There needs to be a co-ordinated approach between Industry and Education on where Industry needs
to go and how this is co-ordinated.
Food & Farming
• The creation of training that is fit for purpose with bespoke elements to meet the needs of employers and the industry as a whole. This includes on-going training which would support in staff retention, which is currently a significant issue.
• The perception of the sector needs to change amongst learners and parents. More engagement with schools is required to ensure that the sector is portrayed as one that is full of potential and opportunity. This would attract young entrants to the sector and help to alleviate the pressure of an ageing workforce.
Health & Social Care
• Availability of nurses across both the public and private sector is an immediate priority area, action required on training, recruitment and retention.
• Preparing the social care workforce for registration in advance of full registration by 2020 including a package of support is a priority.
• Improving the image of health and social care including the understanding of it as a worthwhile career, identification of progression routes including the promotion of apprenticeships and preparation of individuals for management through ‘values based’ recruitment.
• Welsh language is important for delivering care within the region, need identified for increasing the levels of conversational Welsh language skills.
Leisure, Tourism & Retail
• Develop a Hotel School of Excellence in Hospitality for the region. Coupled with this would be the agreement and promotion of an area wide standard of good visitor care for the Heritage Industry and attractions.
• Enhance the CPD opportunities for existing staff and raise the profile of the Industry within schools.
• The Further Education sector and industry should work in partnership to develop relevant training for the industry that meets the needs of the learner, industry and provider. Through this process consideration
should be given to examples of good practice that are currently being delivered in the region.
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Executive Summary