Fit for Purpose?Employment and Skills in

CornwallJudith HannEmployment and Skills Manager

“The Times, they are a-changin”

• Changing economic context

• Changing policy context

• Changing European context

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly LEP

LEP Growth Strategy 2012-2020

The Employment Issues

• Unemployment lower than UK rates– But persistent long term issues for

specific groups– Youth Unemployment a concern

• Low Wage economy– Links to poverty– Impact of welfare reform– Linked to qualifications

The Skills Issues• Attainment

– Gap in GCSE attainment between Cornwall and UK

– Gap in workforce skills at Level 4 and higher– Persistent lower level skills issues

• Aspiration– Continued mismatch between skills being

delivered and what business wants??– Advanced engineering, IT, leadership and

management, R & D and Innovation

The Employment and Skills Board

• Led by the Private Sector– Private sector chair– Over 50% employer membership– Demand Driver Group

• Developed the Employment and Skills Strategy

– Partnership agreed objectives– Sign off through Council and LEP

The Employment and Skills Strategy - Key principles

• Keep it simple– Elucidate simple objectives through

actions plans and projects

• Evidence based– Linked to economic growth for all

• Demonstrable impact– Ongoing monitoring& adjustment

Strategic Objectives

1. Create an aspirational and innovative employment and enterprise culture

2. Improve skills and boost employment in growing global markets

3. Enable those out of work to compete in the labour market by developing the necessary skills

4. Increase employer and individual investment in skills

5. Improve the quality of and access to information for learners, employers and providers

Understanding demand• Research into:

– Aerospace– Creative / Digital– Started: VCSE; Food and Drink; Space– Coming: Offshore renewables; Tele-health/care

• Leadership and Management– Symposium to bring demand and supply

together (planning stages)

• Employment Forecasting Tool and Labour Market Insight Tool

Other Work to date:Links to other groups

– 11 – 25 Strategic Group– Combined Universities of Cornwall partnership– Cornwall Works / JCP

• Youth Employment and Talent Match

Other activity– Cornwall Apprenticeship Campaign– Skills Support for the Workforce– Key messages from sub groups– The ‘Less Developed’ plan!

Back to the Future…

• Developing the Strategic Economic Plan– Structural and Investment

Fund Strategy– Single Local Growth

Fund/growth Deal– Public and Private

investment

Smart, Sustainable, Inclusive Growth for the people of CIoS