South Yorkshire’s Chambers of Commerce have come together to lead a successful bid that could transform skills supply, employment prospects, and business productivity across the region.
The South Yorkshire Local Skills Improvement Plan Trailblazer will be led by Doncaster Chamber, working alongside Sheffield, and Barnsley and Rotherham.
A range of partners are also on board, including the region’s colleges and Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre Training Centre, with backing from the region’s MPs, the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority and local enterprise partnership.
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This will be a targeted pilot working closely with colleges and other providers to provide skills solutions for employers in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths-related industries.
It is seen as puting businesses in the driving seat when it comes to articulating skills demand, while the pilot will also seek to encourage businesses to increase the level of investment in their workforce.
Andrew Denniff, chief executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, said: “This is excellent news for South Yorkshire. Improving skills supply and encouraging businesses to invest in workforce development are two priorities within the region’s ambitious Strategic Economic Plan.
"This is an opportunity to put employers at the heart of skills planning in a new and innovative way.”
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Dan Fell, chief executive of Doncaster Chamber, said: “Our bid was backed by a range of STEAM-related employers, including some of the region’s exemplar businesses, who have committed to working with the chambers and colleges as early adopters to make this this project a success.
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"The collaborative approach to this bid demonstrates the ability of ‘Team South Yorkshire’ to sing from the same hymn sheet and to create positive outcomes for the region’s businesses and residents.”
Louisa Harrison-Walker, an executive director at Sheffield Chamber, added: “Developing a highly skilled workforce is so very important to our Chamber members and the wider business community.
"This work will be led by businesses for businesses, but it will involve genuine collaboration with all those who care about developing a highly skilled workforce fit for the 21st century.”