A new strategy setting out the West of England’s approach to creating a more joined up employment and skills system has been approved by the Mayor and council leaders – backed by Pat McFadden, the Work andPensions Secretary; Alan Milburn, who is leading the government’s independent review into young people and work; and Peter Hyman, the former headteacher who co-authored Inside the Mind of a Young NEET.
The Skills Strategy is an essential building block in delivering one of the six priorities established in the West of England’s Growth Strategy, publishedin September. It sets out a vision for the West of England to be a place where opportunities and talent thrive, empowering residents with the skills to access jobs that will shape our future, while creatinganother 72,000 new jobs in the country’s fastest-growing regional economy.
Skills and employment are central to improving life chances, supporting social mobility, and lifting children and families out of poverty. Currently too many residents are unable to access these opportunities, particularly young people.
The recent firstreport publication of the Milburn report highlighted how nearly one million young people in Britain are locked out of work, education, and training. The Mayor welcomed the report’s call for urgent action tobe taken to halt the rise in young people being left behind.
The Skills Strategy is centred around three core themes, that reflect where interventions can have the most benefits for supporting residents into opportunity:
- Young people: ensuring they have the essential employability skills which will help them to succeed, and working on reducing the number of young people who are not in education,employment, or training
- Adults: breaking down barriers, supporting people to stay and progress in work, and tackling the challenges holding people back, such as health, transport, and caring responsibilities
- Lifelong learning: building employability skills alongside the technical skills that can enable people to progress and adapt to a changing economy and labour market
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“The West of England’s new Skills Strategy sets out an ambitious target for the fastest-growing regional economy to also become the country’s first NEET Zero region.
“Employers increasingly want young people to have not just academic qualifications, but the ability to succeed in work. As a result, we are developing the West Bacc: a new regional work-readiness award that will invest to give young people the confidence,skills, and experience that employers are looking for.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said:
“This government is committed to working hand in hand with local leaders to deliver real change for people across the country.
“Local leaders know their communities best, and the West of England Skills Strategy is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when national and local government work together.
“Our reforms to skills, apprenticeships and employment support, backed by our £2.5 billion support package will ensure that every young person has the skills and confidence they need to succeed.”
Alan Milburn, who is leading the government’s independent review into young people and work, said:
“Over 1 million young people not being in education, employment, or training is a generational faultline in our country. I welcome the NEET Zero ambition in the West of England’s Skills Strategy and hopeother parts of the country will follow suit. By working together Mayors, local authorities, educators and employers can help open up new opportunities for young people to earn and learn.”
Peter Hyman, the former headteacher and strategist who coined the term ‘NEET Zero’ and co-authored Insidethe Mind of a Young NEET, said:
“To go for NEET zero – no young people who are NEET – is ambitious, important and right. We have listened to young people in the West of England and they are desperate for school to prepare them betterfor work, to learn the skills they need to succeed at work, and better connections and support for people into the workplace. This is an exciting plan for new jobs, new skills and new opportunities.”
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council and Deputy Mayor of the West of England; Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council; Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, Leader ofSouth Gloucestershire Council, and Councillor Ian Boulton, Co-Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said in a joint statement:
“Our Growth Strategy sets out an ambitious plan to create 72,000 new jobs across the West of England over the next decade. To make that a reality, we must ensure local people have the skills to access these opportunities and that our businesses can findand develop the workforce they need.
“This Skills Strategy is a crucial step towards a more joined-up, locally led system that works for residents and employers alike – removing barriers to work, supporting progression, and helping people gain skills throughout their lives.
“By investing in people and aligning skills with the needs of our regional economy, we can build a stronger, more inclusive economy where everyone has the chance to succeed.”
To support the delivery of the Skills Strategy, the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority is set to use its funding and powers across the region to create a more joined-up and flexible approach to skills delivery. This ensures provision is more effectivelytailored to our residents’ needs and reflects the nature of our regional economy as it continues to grow.
In May, the Mayorannounced an extra £2 million in funding for youth skills including an expansion of the regional Youth Guarantee through grant funding for the voluntary sector to reach more young people, building on the pilotyear of the government-funded programme.
