An urgent call is going out to employers in Staffordshire as it emerged that 42 per cent of them were struggling to source new recruits with basic employment skills.
Data from the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire revealed the shocking extent of the skills shortage.
In the case of one priority sector, Health and Social Care, 71 per cent of organisations were struggling with a skills gap.
Now business leaders are being given the chance to make known their training needs in a series of collaborative events with providers.
More than 30 sessions are being set up for late February and March by Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce in their capacity as the Employer Representative for LSIP in the region.
The aim is to find out what training is needed and how employers and providers can collaborate to build a stronger skills system for the future.
Suzanne Quinn, the project leader for LSIP at the Chambers, said: “Unless employers speak up and tell us what the issues are, providers won’t be able to put on courses that match their needs.
“They need to voice what they need from a skills perspective over next three years, to give the providers time to develop the training.”
Locations of the events, which are open to all and cover a wide range of business sectors, include:
- Keele University (Energy Distribution theme) on 6 March
- Royal Stoke University Hospital (NHS/Health) on 6 March
- Chambers’ Festival Park headquarters (Construction) on 1 March
- Chambers’ Festival Park headquarters (Engineering) on 25 March
- Tamworth Hub/Enterprise Centre (Greater Birmingham Chamber/Tamworth) on 7 March
- Chasetown Football Club (Greater Birmingham Chamber – Lichfield/Cannock) on 6 March
- Burton and South Derbyshire College (Greater Birmingham Chamber – East Staffs) on 5 March
- Codsall HQ (South Staffordshire Council) on 21 March
- VAST HQ (Voluntary Sector) on 21 March.
Many of the events will be hosted by training providers and providers will be present at all sessions.
Suzanne added: “The first thing mentioned by employers at meetings is the lack of employability and soft skills shown by applicants.
“Over the last six months a number of initiatives have taken place to address these issues, which are coming to fruition and will be presented at the events. The purpose of these events is to focus on the specific skills that an employer needs now or in the next few years.
“It may be that only a small tweak to the curriculum is needed – this is business leaders’ chance to let providers know what adjustments are needed.
“Employers often don’t realise how flexible the providers can be.”
The local LSIP project, funded by the Department for Education, is continually liaising with the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Careers Hub, schools and colleges to develop the post-16 competencies required.
To book for one of the LSIP events, click here.
