Minister backs D2N2’s Skills for Growth Strategy launched at Champions Breakfast

D2N2 – the Local Enterprise Partnership for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – launched its Skills for Growth Strategy yesterday.

And the plan was welcomed by Matthew Hancock MP, the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise, backing the commitment of the Local Enterprise Partnership for putting skills at the forefront of its agenda.

D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph outlined the initial plans at a special Chesterfield Champions event hosted by Destination Chesterfield at Chesterfield College’s Heartspace building on Infirmary Road.

Mr Ralph said: “Business consistently identifies skills as their number one barrier to growth and for that reason alone skills is one of the key cornerstones of our Growth Strategy – to deliver 55,000 jobs over the next ten years.

“We have to recognise that for there to be a step change in skills, outcomes will not be delivered through any magic bullet but with a relentless pursuit of excellence. Fundamentally, and in D2N2’s view, placing employability and the needs of employers across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire at the forefront of our Skills for Growth Strategy is key.

“If we are serious about economic growth then we need to be serious about positioning delivery to support employers.

“Under the localism agenda, success is in our hands. Raising aspirations comes best from local champions and best practice and it will be the delivery of local collaboration, energy and excellence which makes the lasting difference.”

Matthew Hancock MP, the Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise, welcomed D2N2’s Skills for Growth Strategy.

He said: “I welcome the launch of D2N2’s skills plan. There is a clear commitment to driving up apprenticeship opportunities and to working with employers, colleges and training providers to prioritise the skills needs of business now and for the future.

“The next stage must be to turn the plan into action, and for the benefits to be felt by employers and learners on the ground.”
The Strategy outlines six key skills priorities. They are:

• Develop sector growth agreements to make explicit ownership and shared responsibilities for investment, ICT, labour market intelligence and impact measures.

• Improve business leadership, management skills and training needs analysis to help increase productivity and performance.

• Promote and develop apprenticeships and traineeships to achieve higher-level skills and improve social mobility.

• Foster enterprise and the characteristics of entrepreneurial behaviour, career adaptability and resilience.

• Raise the visibility of and access to career insights and specialist careers support for young people and adults to raise aspirations, participation, retention and achievement in learning and work.

• Promote graduate recruitment and facilitate graduate retention in the region.

To download the Skills for Growth summary or full document, go towww.d2n2lep.org/skills

Source:D2N2