Keith Burnley Executive Director

1. The North West Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Keith Burnley Executive Director

2. Background • Skills White Papers (2003 and 2005) • DfES Grant letters to HEFCE (2006 and 2007) • Leitch Review (December 2006) • FE White Paper (2006) • Regional Economic Strategy 2006-09 • Vision ‘A dynamic, sustainable international economy which competes on the basis of knowledge, advanced technology and an excellent quality of life for all…’

3. Background • Regional Economic Strategy 2006-09 • Skills and education ‘…Level 4 and 5 skills are required for growth in the knowledge economy. However, the region has fewer people with level 4 skills than the England average. Although the training of new graduates and their retention is high, the proportion of the existing workforce with the higher level skills required for the knowledge economy is inadequate.’

4. Background • Today over 70% of the workforce for 2020 has already completed their compulsory education • Leitch set an objective to exceed 40% of adults qualified to level 4 and above by 2020, up from 29% in 2005 • One of the aims of the Leitch Review is to increase employer investment in level 3 and 4 qualifications in the workplace

5. Background • Leitch states that productivity is driven by skills and that higher level skills drive innovation, facilitate investment and improve leadership and management • Although the UK’s productivity has improved in recent years it still lags behind that of comparator nations, the average French worker produces 20% more per hour than the average UK worker

6. Background • NWUA Involvement with the Regional Skills Partnership • Regional Statement of Learning and Skills Priorities • Audit of HEI provision • Developing partnerships with LSC, JC+, SSC, NWDA etc… • Individual Institution employer engagement activity

7. The North West Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Dr Celia Brigg Assistant Director (Skills)

8. Outline • Aims and Objectives • NW Model • Brokerage • Development of Provision • Current Activity • Next Steps

9. HEFCE Objectives • Embed HE in employer workforce development and skills strategies regionally, sectorally and nationally • Embed workforce development and skills in HE providers’ strategies • Promote greater co-funding of HE provision by employers

10. North West Aims • Increase demand from employers for higher level skills provision • Increase employer engagement in HEIs and FECs • Increase the capacity of HEIs and FECs to respond to employer demand for higher level skills • Test the level of funding employers are prepared to contribute for development and delivery of this provision

11. North West Model • Two main aspects to the NW model • Brokerage • Business Support brokerage • Skills brokerage • Development of Provision • Reactive – in response to demand identified through the brokerage • Proactive – through partnerships with SSCs, employers etc…

12. North West Model • Brokerage Through the LSC Train to Gain Skills Brokers Skills brokers: • are independent • will be trained and accredited against the National Brokerage Competency Framework • help employers identify training needs and appropriate training providers at all skills levels • can be sector specific • understand remit of SSC’s and will be conversant with the sector priorities of individual SSCs

13. North West Model • Brokerage Through the regional IDB Service ‘Business Link’ • will be launched 1st April 2007 • will involve sector specific and generic brokers • will refer higher level activity via the Specialist Advisors • will complement the Skills Brokers and broker access to the wider HE offer as well as the skills offer

14. North West Model NWUA support for Train to Gain Skills Brokers and IDB Brokers: • 4 Specialist HE Advisors • Online searchable database of current HE provision • Training of brokers to increase knowledge of HE

15. North West Model • Development of Provision • Reactive : when needs are identified by brokers they will work with the specialist advisors to link to HEIs / FECs interested in meeting this need • Proactive : 4 sectors identified for initial focus • Advanced Engineering and Materials • Creative and Digital Industries • Business and Professional Services • Construction

16. North West Model • Development of Provision • Four sector panels convened involving SSCs, NWDA, SSPAs and LSC • Panels will produce guidance and issue call for proposals, then assess proposals and agree funding • Panels will also consider funding developments which emerge from the brokerage activity • Funding available includes development money and ASNs

17. Current Activity • Development of broker training • Collection of information on provision for database • Specialist Advisor visits to HEIs and FECs • Sector panel meetings • Staff development needs • Links with similar initiatives in the region and nationally

18. Next Steps • Call For proposals to be launched at the workshops today • HE Providers work in partnership with employers to submit proposal, proposals approved and funded • Specialist Advisors will be visiting HEIs and FECs to discuss development within each of their sectors

19. Further Information Dr Celia Brigg, Assistant Director (Skills) cbrigg@nwua.ac.uk 0161 2348891 Fiona McGregor, Specialist Advisor (Construction) fmcgregor@nwua.ac.uk 07769 883447 Peter Davies, Specialist Advisor (Digital & Creative Industries) pdavies@nwua.ac.uk 07769 882 487 Eddie Keating, Specialist Advisor (Business and Professional Services) ekeating@nwua.ac.uk 07769 883 460 Karen Lang, Senior Officer klang@nwua.ac.uk 0161 2340438 Virginia Mitchell, Administration Assistant vmitchell@nwua.ac.uk 0161 2340431