Page 81 - Regional Employment & Skills Plan

Specific pathways which need updating to meet current needs are within the ICT and Computing, Business and Tourism sectors.
Curriculum Offer
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The duration and delivery patterns of provision is also an area of concern. At present, these factors create barriers for learners attempting to find employment opportunities and that much needed experience of the working world. For instance;
‘Reducing the duration of vocational programmes to align with a Higher Education academic year whereby learners would experience a fuller timetable from September to May so that seasonal employment opportunities could be exploited.’
Suitability of Provision Available for Delivery
Qualifications are developing rapidly and are being carefully scrutinised as Qualifications Wales undertakes their regulatory function. As previously mentioned there is a desire from providers to improve the parity of vocational qualifications with traditional A level study. An area of concern is the pressure placed on institutions by external assessment procedures to make vocational study more academic in nature. This is to the detriment of some learners and once again a barrier to firstly engagement and then further progression.
Whilst there is some evidence to support the positive changes in qualification design to account for 5technological advancements and the digital footprint further improvements are required with regards to 14-19 pathways and the suitability of KS4 curriculum to meet skills priorities. This is in direct reference to the desire to lessen the emphasis on academic routes and focus more on preparation for work. This substantiates the requirements of employers who state that soft skills is an area of concern for new entrants 6to their sectors. As a result, employers should have a greater input into the development of curricula.
Hospitality & Catering, Welsh medium provision in construction & care, FA's in the Creative Industries, Tourism, Agriculture, Hospitality & Managment & Health & Care sectors, STEM aligned courses, Marine Tourism, Engineering & Food Technology.
A - Level Provision
Recruitment
Every institution reported having difficulty in recruiting teaching/academic staff with the desired skillset. With the ever increasing focus on learners’ numeracy and literacy skills it has become problematic to recruit individuals with the skillset to deliver these elements as well as possessing a high standard of knowledge in their field, subject area or trade.
Subject areas where these issues are more prevalent include;
Engineering, Construction Trades, Creative Industries, Motor Vehicle, Food and Farming.
For some institutions there is also a demand for more bilingual staff that are able to deliver more traditional subject areas such as Maths and Science.
Regional Employment & Skills Plan South West & Mid Wales Learner and Provider Consultation Analysis