A trio of chambers of commerce in the West Midlands are to lead on a new employment project in the region to develop a plan aimed at addressing the specific skills needs of businesses. Greater Birmingham, Coventry and Warwickshire and Black Country chambers have together been selected by the Department for Education to lead on the region's so-called 'Local Skills Improvement Plan'.
These plans have been designed by the Government with the aim of putting employers at the centre of the skills system and to build a stronger, more dynamic partnership between those employers and further education providers. It is hoped that skills provision can be more responsive to the needs of the local labour market within the West Midlands.
The three chambers will now carry out a detailed research exercise including online surveys, events and meetings with employers among both their own memberships and those of other trade groups and the wider business community.
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This will lead to the publication of a new report to identify the true needs of employers in the region and will set out a plan to work with education and skills providers to help deliver what they say they require. The report will remain 'live' so that shifting needs can be identified and addressed.
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: "The fourth industrial revolution is fundamentally changing the way in which we live, work and do business. The chamber's involvement in this programme is a great opportunity for us to inform and shape provision linked to digital transformation with, and on behalf of, the local business community.
"We look forward to working with our neighbouring chambers, local stakeholders and educators to deliver a meaningful plan, incorporating and building on the significant work already underway to upskill talent across the region.
"What's important now is ensuring that we also engage a diverse range of business voices, from all sizes and sectors across the region to shape our research and inform the priorities of the plan."
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Corin Crane, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "This is a game-changing shift in the way we look at the skills need of the economy as it will put employers in the region at the centre of what is required and what is delivered.
"That provision has previously been decided by Whitehall but the Government recognises that employers know what is needed and, through the Local Skills Improvement Plan, chambers across the West Midlands will be diligently gathering the information and then presenting a report."
Neil Anderson, director of external affairs of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, added: "This is a hugely positive and significant opportunity for the West Midlands. For too many years, those leading local firms have repeatedly emphasised a disconnect between skills policy and the needs of businesses.
"Building on the strength of the chambers as connectors at the forefront of business sentiment, the research will provide powerful evidence for partners and decision makers to ensure that businesses acquire talent with the right skills and build collaborations to power the region's economy."
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