March 2023
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
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This conference examined priorities for developing regional skills in England, looking at policy, systems and what is needed for implementation.
Stakeholders and key policymakers assessed priorities for skills strategy affecting local areas, with key areas for discussion including:
- building stakeholder and local government collaboration
- priorities for education and training
- maximising the contribution of skills development to local economic growth
It was an opportunity to discuss key issues related to the rollout of Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), as well as ongoing devolution negotiations between the Government and local authorities.
We also expected discussion on the Labour Party’s recently announced proposals aimed at tackling skills shortages and regional imbalances, and on local skills training.
Delegates assessed the role of key stakeholders involved in developing skills systems, including priorities for local authorities, and proposals for integration of Local Enterprise Partnerships into existing council functions for business support and skills development.
The agenda included case studies on:
- plans for reshaping skills and training through the Government’s new LSIP schemes in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire
- use of devolved powers, and implementing skills funding targeted at local economic growth and improving educational outcomes, with a contribution from Tees Valley Combined Authority
Overall, sessions in the agenda included:
- Local Skills Improvement Plans: priorities for delivery and review - the role of employer representative bodies - addressing local skills gaps - engagement with stakeholder groups
- collaboration: building effective cross-sector relationships - collaborative skills and training programmes - developing the evidence base - identifying sector skills gaps
- education providers: aligning policies and strategy - working with national awarding bodies - tackling regional disparities in education and training - the role of post-16 and FE providers
- local economy: skills strategy in local authority functions - boosting local business growth, including SMEs - promoting regional economic partnerships - incentivising employer investment in skills
- skills development strategy: tracking employer priorities - developing resilient plans for investment in education and training - coordinating regional and national skills policy
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with Stephen Wan, Deputy Director, Skills Strategy and Delivery, Department for Education; Councillor Bob Cook, Leader, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council; and Cabinet Lead on Education, Employment and Skills, Tees Valley Combined Authority; Louise Aitken, Skills Lead, South East Local Enterprise Partnership; and Sam Callear, Deputy Director of Policy and New Concepts, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the DCMS; DBT; DESNZ; DIT; Department for the Economy, NI; DfE; DLUHC; DSIT; DWP; GLD; HMPPS; the IPO; and Ofsted.
