Firstly another chance to plug the imminent (8 July) and always interesting South West Learning and Skills Research Network (LSRN) Conference. This year's conference takes place at the beautiful Buckfast Abbey Conference Centre on the topic of A Road Less Travelled ... Research in the Lifelong Learning Sector. Click here to find out more or email Elizabeth Yard at Learning South West.

Today the Skills Minister, John Hayes, has welcomed the publication of an independent report on the co-investment system in Further Education. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills commissioned Christopher N. Banks CBE to undertake the review to assess the systems by which adult learners and employers co-invest in learning with the Government, and how the system can be improved. Chris Banks’ review recommends:
- Government contributions to the cost of appropriate training should follow and support the choices and contributions of individuals and employers where required; and
- Clear information should be provided about the total cost of a course and the quality of provision; and
- Options for the individual to have access to financial support to meet the cost of their contribution to their course. Click here for the press release.

You should have received our latest SLIM-Comment on the recent Budget announcements. If not, please drop me an email and I will send it through to you or visit the SLIM-website and download it from there.

The recent SWRESB Alliance meeting looked at the future of the South West Skills Strategy, and a report on the event will be made available soon. If you would like to receive a copy please email Trish Hill at the SWRESB.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=56 06/07/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I am delighted that Vicki Johnson, Director of Investors in People South West, has agreed to write the introduction to this edition. So without further ado, over to Vicki:


Three newsletters on from the election and just days before the Emergency Budget we await the detail of the changes to come – so it seems fitting to celebrate a product of Michael Heseltine’s tenure at the DTI and which 19 years later is the UK’s premier business improvement tool and an internationally recognised mark of good practice.

Over 70,000 organisations have used the Investors in People framework to address issues such as leadership and management capabilities, talent management and employee engagement. Here in the South West 2,500 organisations are currently working with the Standard covering around 33% of the working population – of these 453 have been recognised for 10 years or more. We are delighted to report that 87 organisations have achieved additional recognition at Bronze, Silver and Gold level since their launch in May and is evidence of the continued value organisations gain and the appetite to seek further performance improvements through working with the Investors in People framework.

Changes to the delivery of Investors in People with the focus on tailoring assessments to client business objectives and delivering added value have been well received and customer satisfaction remains high at 98%.

In April responsibility for Investors in People moved to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills where the intention is to position Investors in People ‘at the heart of the UK’s business improvement and skills agenda’. In April Simon Perryman (Director of Employee Engagement at the UK Commission for Employment and Skills) told a meeting of our Investors in People Network Club in Exeter that the aim of the Commission is to “strengthen the employer voice, and deliver greater leadership and influence to achieve the best from the UK’s employment and skills systems’ and the Commission sees the Investors in People Standard as the number one vehicle to help employers achieve this.

It is clear from the research that Investors in People can have a real impact on business success. Investors in People organisations are more likely to have
- high levels of trust, commitment and cooperation amongst employees
- a more flexible workforce
- high levels of product and service innovation
- increased levels of skills coupled with improved return on investment in learning and development
- an organisational climate that delivers performance
- higher gross profits per employee than non-Investors in People organisations

It is evident that Investors in People can support our regional priorities, particularly in growing and supporting Successful Businesses, and in addressing leadership and management capabilities. We are keen to work more closely with all our delivery partners to reach businesses across the South West and to encourage even greater take-up of the Standard.

Vicki Johnson, Director, Investors in People South West


Thank you Vicki.

I have just this minute received an update from Katy at Student Finance England:
- Deadlines: New students need to apply for full-time support this year by 25th June to ensure they receive their money at the start of term. More information about this can be found here.
- Processing Applications: Please remind your students to apply as soon as possible We may need up to 20 working days to receive, process applications and 35 to return evidence. We have set up new web pages with evidence guidance here.
- Updates: new fact sheets, an online demo and part-time calculator are now available for use here.
For further information or to arrange a training session please contact Katy Barge

For information I will endeavour to produce a briefing paper (SLIM-Comment) on the major changes emerging from the 22 June emergency Budget by the end of next week.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=55 18/06/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest South West Skills Newsletter.

It looks as though many structural changes are on the way for the employment, education and skills sectors and we will continue to keep you abreast of the major policy announcements and implications through this newsletter and through its asociated free SLIM-Comment briefings.

The excellent State of the South West 2010 report is now being circulated. The online version is even better with additional content and a facility to drill down into the data - giving real added value. You can read the online copy by clicking here. To order a hard copy please email Rachel at the South West Observatory.

The Business and Economy Module have released their latest, very useful, Economics Monitor for May 2010. This provides a montly update of key UK economic trends and world trends including GDP, employment and inflation. You can access it by clicking here.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=54 07/06/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I would like to start by thanking Clive Turner, Head of External Affairs in the South West for EEF, the manufacturer's organisation, for providing the introduction to the previous edition of the newsletter, which was well received.

The SWRESB have already uploaded presentations from this week’s Annual Conference (The EU: LESSONS from the CONTINENT). These can be accessed by clicking here. More information following the Conference will be on the RESB Website over the next few days.

We are awaiting some major announcements concerning the employment and skills sector, and SLIM will be providing a briefing document summarising the main announcements / changes as part of their ongoing SLIM-Comments series. As a newsletter subscriber, you will automatically receive these.

A conference report from the recent Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Careers Conference in Exeter will be available very soon. Please contact my colleague Hilary if you would like to receive a copy.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=53 20/05/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I am delighted that Clive Turner, Head of External Affairs in the South West for EEF the manufacturer's organisation, has agreed to write the introduction to this edition. So without further ado, over to Clive:

Build STEM skills for a Balanced Economy

As I write this piece, we stand on the threshold of a new Parliament and, I believe, a new era in which our commitment to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects will become increasingly important in defining the future shape of our economy.

In all the pre-election talk, there was one subject perhaps more than any other upon which everyone agreed - we need less ‘financial engineering’ and more ‘real engineering’ if we are to achieve the balanced economy that will create a more sustainable future.

The previous obsession with the City created the impression that Britain no longer possessed a manufacturing base; that everything was made overseas. Try telling that to the estimated 290,000 people employed by south west manufacturers, some of which lead the world in sectors such as aerospace and electronics.

The mood in government circles started to change with the onset of the financial crisis, with talk of ‘industrial activism’ …but we now need action as well as words – and this needs to start with our skills base.

A recent survey among EEF members showed that over half were concerned about their ability to attract and retain skilled employees. This is of particular concern in the South West because as the country’s first formally designated Low Carbon Economic Area, we have a great opportunity to leverage advantage from low carbon sectors that globally will be worth around £4.5 trillion by 2015.

At EEF, we want to see a greater prioritising of available resources for STEM education, including engineering and manufacturing diplomas and apprenticeships. We also believe that funding should be demand-led and responsive to the needs of individuals and businesses.

There is, in our opinion, some room for de-cluttering the number of organisations involved in planning and funding training and an opportunity to encourage greater collaboration between FE and HE sectors and businesses on skills development.

However, it seems that at the moment we simply do not have sufficient young people coming through with the engineering skills that regional companies need to compensate for what is generally an ageing workforce.

The positive news is that over the medium-term the picture looks a lit more encouraging, with more young people are choosing STEM subjects and achieving good grades. However, what’s not certain is how funding will shape up as we move forward. Any squeeze on teaching funding in these subjects – as seemed to happen last year – can only be detrimental to the stated aim of achieving a more balanced economy.

One initiative that we do welcome is the south west Talent Retention Scheme for the advanced engineering sector. Here, engineers made redundant as a result of the recession are being helped either to find employment with local companies or to retrain as STEM teachers. In this way, at least, we will either retain their skills for industry or enable them to pass on to the next generation those skills that we know will become increasingly important to our economic wellbeing.

For our regional economy to thrive, it’s vital that our manufacturers continue to evolve, adapt and grow – because if we manage to fulfil our potential (in part by making STEM skills a priority), it might even be possible for the UK to climb the global league table for manufacturing economies.


Thank you Clive. Last week's Science, Technology, Engineeering and Mathematics (STEM) Careers Conference in Exeter was a great success and I am currently writing a brief summary of the event. Contact my colleague Hilary if you would like to receive a copy.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=52 07/05/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) You should have received an invitation to the SWRESB's forthcoming annual conference in the email for this edition of the newsletter. Click here to register or email Stephanie at the SWRESB for further details.

Last week saw the publication of the 2010 State of the South West's Environment report. The Environment Agency led the production of the report on behalf of 15 SW environmental organisations who in turn provided chapters for the report, alongside the many more data sources who contributed to the range of aspects covered. This is a strong example of how working in partnership with others has helped focus resources on achieving the most important outcomes for our environment. In this case, the foundations of a single environmental evidence base now exists for the region that we can all exploit in determining which actions should impact least on our environment. To access the report click here and for more information email Annette Carr at the Environment Agency.

Next week's Science, Technology, Engineeering and Mathematics (STEM) Conference in Exeter on April 26th now has in excess of 100 people registered (ash clouds permitting…), and looks like an extremely timely event. Contact my colleague Ruth if you would like to receive a booking form and further details.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=51 20/04/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I hope you all had a good Easter break. Last week saw the final demise of the LSC and the arrival of the Skills Funding Agency and Young People's Learning Agency. Amongst other things this means a number of our readers will need to let me have their updated email addresses…

Starting today, for the first time employees will have the right to request time for study or training. 'Time to Train' will give workers in businesses which employ more than 250 people the legal right to request time off to take up relevant training. Those in smaller busineses will have the same right from next year - giving smaller businesses chance to implement the necessary changes.

Last week also saw an excellent South West Observatory Annual Conference in Bath Health, Wealth and Happiness: What Makes a Prosperous Region? The conference brought together an excellent range of speakers and panelists to consider what we mean by prosperity, how we can measure it, and how we might plan to deliver a shared aspiration for the region. If you would like copies of the presentations pleae visit the South West Observatory website. The event also saw the release of the indispensable State of the South West 2010 report.

The forthcoming Science, Technology, Engineeering and Mathematics (STEM) Conference in Exeter on April 26th already has in excess of 80 attendees, and looks like an extremely timely event. Contact my colleague Ruth if you would like to receive a booking form and further details.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=50 06/04/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) SLIM are in the process of completing an extremely valuable, and timely, piece of work to provide an evidence base for each of the region's Employment and Skills Boards. The reports have also been produced to inform the development of Work and Skills Plans and development of local priorities for the Skills Funding Agency. Click here to find them on the SLIM website.

The South West RESP have announced details of their Annual Conference which will be held at the Bristol City Centre Marriott Hotel on Tuesday 18th May. The event will focus upon learning from the skills and employment good practice to be found within the EU. The keynote speakers have been specially selected to inform on the very latest UK and International positions. The speakers include Chris Humphries CBE, Chief Executive of the UKCES, and Robert Strauss from the European Commission. Click here to register or email Stephanie at the SWRESP for further details.

You should have recently received details of the forthcoming Science, Technology, Engineeering and Mathematics (STEM) Conference in Exeter on April 26th. Contact my colleague Ruth if you would like to receive a booking form and further details.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=49 20/03/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter. We start with details of the excellent programme for the forthcoming 7th Annual South West Observatory Conference:

Health, Wealth and Happiness: What Makes a Prosperous Region?
31st March 2010, the Assembly Rooms, Bath
The conference will bring together an excellent range of speakers and panelists to consider what we mean by prosperity, how we can measure it, and how we might plan to deliver a shared aspiration for the region. Confirmed speakers and panelists include:
Matthew Taylor, RSA
Jonathon Porritt CBE, Forum for the Future
Dr Sara Eppel, DEFRA
Professor Tom Schuller, NIACE
John Savage CBE, South West RDA
Dr Gabriel Scally, NHS
Professor Katie Williams, UWE
Colin Molton, Homes and Communities Agency
Melanie Hall MBE, NFU
Nigel Jump, South West RDA
Dame Suzi Leather, Charity Commission
There are also display stand opportunities available. For further information or to book your place, please visit the South West Observatory website.

With the onset of March, SLIM’s new Learning Theme is fast approaching - Employment and Skills: The Role of Regeneration in Supporting Communities - it looks at how the South West can get the best jobs and skills benefits from regeneration.

The Government has defined regeneration as: “a set of activities that reverse economic, social and physical decline in areas where market forces will not do this without support from the Government”. Whilst the focus of this Learning Theme is on the link between regeneration, jobs and skills, there are clear lessons for the ways in which local areas can benefit from wider economic development activities. Click here for more information.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=48 06/03/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Every fourth edition we invite a senior figure from the region to introduce the newsletter and tell us a little about what they are actively involved in at the moment. This edition I am delighted that Professor Wendy Purcell, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Plymouth, has agreed to introduce the newsletter.


Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Skills for the South West
Lord Mandelson’s recent launch of the Government's new strategy for economic growth called on Regional Development Agencies and universities to work more closely together to translate research and ideas into business success. It was great to see the University of Plymouth held up by Lord Mandelson as an exemplar of good practice, citing several examples of where the University is playing a leading role in major regional projects including the Innovation Centres in Cornwall and cutting-edge marine renewable research initiatives like the Wave Hub.

These examples demonstrate the University’s support for raising productivity which is seen as a national priority in order to boost competitiveness and respond to globalisation. And the principles are nowhere more evident than in the University’s proposal to develop a Cornwall Institute of Enterprise, Leadership and Management. This proposal directly responds to the ‘productivity gap’ within the County of Cornwall but will also have regional significance in its emphasis on transforming entrepreneurial, leadership and management skills as a driver for change.

It is recognised that the South West has much to do, in comparison with some other regions, to develop its approach to working with business on skills development, and one of the aims of the Institute is to address that deficiency. The Business Plan sets out a number of unique features that mark the Institute as different to a conventional management or business school, setting out four key strands of activity:
- Next Generation: Graduate, Post-Graduate and Placement Programmes: This work will emphasise the wider development of enterprise skills as a key factor in employability for all skilled workers and managers as well as for future leaders and managers.
- Productive Businesses: Leadership and Management Excellence: aimed at increasing productivity improvements by providing enterprise and management training for business owners, senior managers and management teams.
- Cultural Change: Stimulating and Nurturing Enterprise: to embed enterprise skills, knowledge and attitudes into the training and ongoing development of teachers, lecturers, trainers and mentors in the region’s secondary schools, FE colleges and HE institutions, accrediting teachers and mainstreaming entrepreneurship into the curriculum.
- Learning from the Best: Enterprise and Management Research and Dissemination: to provide business-driven research into topics focused around an Enterprise and Knowledge Economy theme accompanied by various associated sub themes which reflect the Institute’s research and innovation strategy. This will be influenced by key sectors such as digital and low carbon economies, and, where possible, respond to the needs of local business.

These exciting proposals reflect the University of Plymouth’s long-standing approach to skills, employability and connectedness to business and the professions and build on, for example:
- The University of Plymouth Colleges (UPC) Faculty which is the largest Higher Education in Further Education network in the UK, embracing 18 partner colleges and enabling some 10,500 students to study for a degree locally.
- Our BA/BSc in Professional Development which provides study opportunities for learners in the workplace who wish to up-skill or re-skill and consists of a shell framework for combining academic and vocational learning.
- Our contract to provide 250 Graduate Internships in partnership with local businesses across the Plymouth travel-to-work area.

Thank You, Wendy


I’m pleased to announce that the latest Recession Briefing for January is now available from SLIM. Please click here to view the Briefing online.

SLIM’s new Learning Theme has now been launched - Employment and Skills: The Role of Regeneration in Supporting Communities - it looks at how the South West can get the best jobs and skills benefits from regeneration. Government has defined regeneration as, “a set of activities that reverse economic, social and physical decline in areas where market forces will not do this without support from the government”. Whilst the focus of this Learning Theme is on the link between regeneration, jobs and skills, there are clear lessons for the ways in which local areas can benefit from wider economic development activities. Click here for more information.

Finally another plug for Join the Population Debate 2010. To inform the Single Regional Strategy, the SW RESP, in partnership with SW RDA and NIACE, are running a ‘horizon-scanning’ exercise exploring regional thinking about demographic change and the implications for employment and policies on active ageing. To do this, they need the help of a group of volunteers willing to spend 30 to 40 minutes participating in a virtual brainstorming exercise and helping prioritise the ideas generated. No particular expertise on issues about ageing is required as they are looking to capture personal or ‘gut’ views rather than professional perspectives. If you are interested in taking part, please e-mail Stephanie Hardy for a briefing pack.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=47 20/02/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) You should have found an important nomination form attached to this email for the South West European Social Fund (ESF) Awards 2010. This is the first event of its kind - and it could be a great asset for the region, so please, if you or your colleagues are delivering ESF-supported training - take a look. Also - please feel free to forward the forms to Training Providers. Short-listed nominees and up to three guests each will be invited to the Awards Ceremony at the Rougemont Thistle Hotel in Exeter on 18th March 2010. Reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed to the nominated participants. Food and refreshments will be provided. Please send Nomination Forms by email to Sue Ponton or by post to the ESF Team, Government Office for the South West, Mast House, Shepherd’s Wharf, 24 Sutton Road, Plymouth PL4 0HJ. The closing date is very soon - however so long as the nomination is received, additional time is available for the nominee to complete their sections.

Many of you will already be familiar with the interesting NIACE-sponsored ‘Inquiry and Learning through Life’. There was a terrific response to this at a recent SW event and consequently, having and talked it through with the Local Authority Adult Learning Executive, NIACE have decided to run a special Seminar 4 (March 30th) on this topic with a more detailed presentation and discussion. If you are interested in attending please email Simon Mauger.

Join the Population Debate 2010. To inform the Single Regional Strategy, the SW RESP in partnership with the SW RDA and NIACE are running a ‘horizon-scanning’ exercise exploring regional thinking about demographic change and the implications for employment and policies on active ageing. To do this, they need the help of a group of volunteers willing to spend 30 to 40 minutes participating in a virtual brainstorming exercise and helping prioritise the ideas generated. No particular expertise on issues about ageing is required as they are looking to capture personal or ‘gut’ views rather than professional perspectives. If you are interested in taking part, please e-mail Stephanie Hardy by Wednesday 10 February at the latest, for a briefing pack.

SW Councils have just released a new Policy Review on the issue of 'NEETs in the South West'. You can get a copy of the report and its recommendations from Sarah Brady.

Finally the Government has launched a one-stop shop for data to the public which gives anyone who wants to use it unprecedented and free access to government data in one place. Click here.


Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=46 05/02/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I am delighted to be able to announce that there will be a new SLIM Learning Theme very soon with the (provisional) title of 'Employment and Skills: The Role of Regeneration in Supporting Communities'. We will be sending out a Bulletin soon and the event will be the usual mix of research papers and conference - scheduled for 23 March 2010 at Sandy Park, Exeter.

Following on from their very successful event last year, Connect South West Ltd (formally Connexions-Somerset), in partnership with STEM South West and the SWRDA, are hosting their second annual Labour Market Information Conference on 24 February 2010 at Dillington House, Ilminster. Entitled 'Are there a few green shoots, or are there STEM’s?' this unique event will give participants the opportunity to attend a variety of workshops run by experts in their fields covering topics on employability and the future skills needs in Somerset, the South West and the UK. Please RSVP to Nina Allen by Friday 5 Feb (places are limited).

Carrying on the topic of our recent SLIM Learning Theme, the Association of Regional Observatories is running a network event on ‘The Environmental Limits on Returning to Economic Growth’ next Wednesday - 27 January 2010, at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Birmingham. For more information, click here.

Finally, don't forget the European Social Fund (ESF) Awards Ceremony on 18 March in Exeter. There will be plenty of opportunities to nominate individuals and organisations - and those interested in doing so should contact Sue Ponton at Government Office for the South West.


Andy Dean ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=45 20/01/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) A Happy New Year from all of us here at the South West Skills Newsletter, on one of those rare snowy days in Exeter, when I feel extremely fortunate to live within walking distance of work.

Not surprisingly, arriving so soon after Christmas and New Year, this edition is a little smaller than usual. Nonetheless I hope you find it useful.

I am delighted to be able to announce that there will be a European Social Fund (ESF) Awards Ceremony on 18 March in Exeter. There will be plenty of opportunities to nominate individuals and organisations - and those interested in doing so should contact Sue Ponton at Government Office for the South West.

Finally, a colleague of mine in Sweden is looking for a partner (College or other training provider) for a project looking to establish a brand new course for people wishing to train to become EU Project coordinators. If you are interested please get back to me asap as the deadline is very near.


Andy Dean ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=44 06/01/2010 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Regular readers will recall that each quarter we invite a representative from the South West skills community to introduce the newsletter. We are pleased that Phil Smith, Chief Executive of Business Link (SW) has agreed to introduce this latest edition.

In these economically uncertain times, it is good to see that businesses are grasping opportunities through developing their staff. Within the South West we have already seen a significant rise in the levels of joint investment from employers in skills. In the seven months to October 2009, the Business Link Skills Brokerage Service has leveraged £2.34m of employer investment; this demonstrates a certain level of confidence and puts us in good shape for whatever comes next.

The Government recently published the National Skills and Skills Investment Strategies which build upon the goals of Leitch and are targeted at steering us towards being a world class leading economy. The strategies have a significant focus on higher level skills coupled with those sectors on which our future sustainability will depend. It will lead to 75% of people participating in higher education or completing an advanced apprenticeship - with the Government creating an additional 35,000 apprenticeship places over the next two years nationally - or technician level qualification by the age of 30.

You will already be aware that the South West has been named the UK's first low carbon economy zone, putting it in the vanguard of the new green industrial revolution. The Government estimates that an additional 1.5 million jobs will be created in the low carbon, life sciences, manufacturing and digital development sectors as well as in other areas as the economy picks up. We are currently working with a variety of stakeholders and partners to look at the implications of this predicted growth and how Business Link can help kick start and sustain it.

It is pleasing to note that we have also seen a significant rise in the investment of organisations in developing their leaders and senior managers. Since April, the South West Business Link Leadership and Management Advisory Service has supported more than 2,000 businesses in the development of their key staff who will lead their organisations into the future.

Through delivering an integrated service of business support, Business Link directly impacts on the success of organisations that contribute to the economy of the South West. Whether you are an individual starting a business, an established business seeking support or a high growth company, we are able to work with our partners to help you improve your business.

All that is left for me to do is to wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.

Phil Smith, Chief Executive, Business Link SW


Thanks, Phil. We have recently learned that Learning South West (LSW) has appointed Paula Jones as their new Chief Executive. LSW plays a key strategic role in the learning and skills, and youth work sectors in the region.

A couple of recent outputs from us here at SLIM – you should have received our SLIM-Comment on the recent White Paper (contact me if you haven’t!) and the 2009 edition of South West at a Glance is now available online. Click here.

Also, for those of you who use RSS feeds – the feed for this newsletter has moved to http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/rss/swskills.asp. And the SLIM-Comment RSS feed is now at http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/rss/comment.asp.

I have just received a job advertisement for the Association of Regional Observatories (ARO) who are looking for a new Coordinator. The post will be hosted by the South West Observatory (Core Unit) in Taunton. The closing date for applications is Monday 18 January 2010. Details are available on the SWO website. Click here.


Finally, just time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Andy Dean ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=43 21/12/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) There is still just time to sign up for the interesting conference/workshop being organised by Team South West in partnership with the South West Regional Employment and Skills Partnership (RESP):

London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
9 December 2009, Taunton Conference Centre (formerly SCAT), Taunton. 09.00 – 13.00

This meeting will:
- Focus specifically on employment and skills interventions;
- Explore the breadth of Olympic legacy activity in the region; and
- Examine the progress and challenges moving forward.
To register please click here.

I have received some further information from Emily at the RDA relating to the Talent Retention Programme that you may find useful. The project seeks to combat skills flight from priority sectors of the South West economy as a result of redundancy or structural change and, to facilitate the retention, development and redeployment of an increasingly flexible, skilled and change-adaptable workforce - matching talent to opportunity to retain skills in key economic sectors.

The South West has two pilots covering Advanced Engineering and Creative and Digital Media sectors. The work runs until June 2012, initially in the North of the region working through the Gloucestershire and West of England Area Action Forces. Roll out to the rest of the region will commence once working protocols have been developed. Opportunities will be sought from across the region. The contacts are:
- Advanced Engineering: Project Manager, Katy Thompson. Contact Katy.
- Creative and Digital Media: Managed and delivered by Bristol Media. Contact Caroline.
Click here for background information.

The Adult Learner’s Week Awards nomination system is now available. So if you know extraordinary and inspiring adult learners and want to give them the recognition they deserve, nominate them for an Adult Learners' Week Award. The awards recognise outstanding adults who have transformed their lives through learning. There are four main award categories:
- Individuals
- Groups
- Families
- Opening Doors (projects)
Making the process easier than ever, you can now nominate online .


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean - at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=42 06/12/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) The new interim Regional Employment & Skills Analysis 2009 Evidence Reports are now available on the SLIM website: Click here. This work is highly significant as it will provide the evidence base for the refresh of the European Social Fund (ESF) Frameworks and the Regional Employment and Skills Partnership (RESP) priorities,. The Analysis will also provide part of the evidence base for the Regional Skills Strategy. You can also find links to the key reference documents.

It has certainly been a very busy month so far for the skills sector. You should have received our three SLIM-Comments, which you can also read online at the SLIM website:
- Skills for Growth - the NEW Skills White Paper
- Higher Ambitions White Paper
- New Careers Education Strategy

For those of you who want to discuss these new developments NIACE have a twitter feed … click here. There are some interesting events on the way looking at Strategies for Effective Employer Engagement: Key lessons for HE from the Higher Levels Skills Pathfinder. These are being held at:
4 December at Plymouth University
10 December at Bournemouth University
14 December at Holiday Inn, Filton, Bristol

Topics to be covered include:
- How can Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) work with employers to meet the nation’s higher skills needs?
- How is the UK higher skills landscape changing and what are the implications?
- How do HEIs position themselves within the higher skills market?
- What are the key factors for success?
Click here for further information.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean - at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=41 20/11/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter. Here at SLIM we are still receiving requests for the latest information on the recession. The best way to get a quick handle on this for the South West is our Recession Briefing which can be found here.

I can announce that SLIM's Learning Theme Workshop on: Green Skills, Green Jobs: Opportunities for the South West Low Carbon Economy that is taking place on 27 November is now fully subscribed – however it is still possible to register to receive the Research Briefs and Final Report by emailing Ruth at SLIM. The keynote speaker can now be confirmed as Tess Gill the Commissioner for Work and Skills at the Sustainable Development Commission.

SLIM has also recently uploaded a number of 14-19 Data Packs from the LSC. These are intended to inform discussions in the move towards Machinery of Government changes and to inform local authorities as they refresh Children & Young People’s Plans. It is expected that they will evolve as future policy and structures emerge and will be refreshed and updated as and when appropriate. You can find them here.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean - at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=40 06/11/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter. This edition is introduced by Business Link (Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly) Chief Executive, Adam Chambers.

I would like to start on a reassuring note, pointing out how good it is that so many people are comforted that the worst of the recession is over.

While this is most welcome, in my view the biggest challenge yet will arrive in the months to come as the business landscape becomes even more competitive and firms fight as never before to grasp and exploit emerging opportunities.

The nature of competition means, inevitably, that there will continue to be losers. But there’s no doubt in my mind that those firms in the South West which take developing the skills of their staff and management most seriously will come out ahead.

So it is just as well that the South West region is one of the UK’s leading areas in terms of skills development. At Business Link, we are providing an increasing number of businesses with skills support, giving a real boost to local firms that we know from research are seeing tangible benefits from their investment in skills. For example, Ofsted reported in 2008 that three-quarters of employers who had used Train to Gain considered it had made their business more effective or competitive. Most satisfying of all, we have seen private sector investment in skills development from April to August this year reach more than twice the level of the same period in 2008 (rising from £0.7 million to £1.7 million).

I for one am convinced that these positive trends will be significantly enhanced by the way that skills development services are now available, with the Train to Gain brokerage service being delivered through Business Link by advisers with specialist skills knowledge and strong business acumen.

On its own, this one result of the business simplification programme means that it now takes just one phone call or email for a manager to get connected to a fully rounded, integrated service that can help with every aspect of launching, running and growing their business. In other words, it puts their hands directly on to some of the most powerful competitive weapons there are, headed by skills development. That’s a great step forward.

This year, too, we’ve focused more than ever on meeting the real, individual needs of our customers, rather than focusing on generic targets such as driving the uptake among businesses of level 2 NVQs. For example, we have been extremely proactive in promoting leadership and management advisory funding, which has helped many business owners review their own skills as well as those of their employees in relation to moving forward and getting back on track.

We have also concentrated on working even more closely with partners, including Jobcentre Plus, the Sector Skills Councils and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS). With the NAS, for example, we are sharing the task of marketing the benefits of apprenticeship to businesses, with a focus on vital industries like manufacturing, engineering, food and drink processing, construction, retail and customer service.

In fact, we have responded in much the same way as many successful businesses during recession – by adjusting to changing demands and concentrating on a high-quality service.

To achieve this, you need skilled staff. The South West Business Link skills service achieved 94% customer satisfaction in the first quarter of 2009, which is some testament to practising what we preach. It’s vital now that the skills of our staff continue to feed those of the region’s businesses during the tough times ahead.

Adam Chambers, Chief Executive, Business Link SW


Finally, just time to remind you of some important workshops coming up soon. The refresh of the Convergence and Competitiveness ESF (European Social Fund) Frameworks is underway. Regional ESF Frameworks set out how ESF spending can add value around regional priorities to tackle worklessness and address skills needs, in the context of the national ESF Programme.

The refresh process is about refining the Framework and is not a complete re-write. It is also about the strategic direction of ESF, not about the detail of delivery (it is not about defining the projects that should be delivered). Although there is no formal requirement to consult on this process, there will be an opportunity to be involved in consultation events in October / November as detailed below:
- 21st October at Kingsley Village, Fraddon, from 1-4 pm
- 3rd November at Future Inn, Bristol, from 1-4 pm
- 9th November at the Guildhall, Salisbury, from 1-4 pm
- 13th November at Ashford's Solicitors, Exeter, from 1-4 pm

In addition to the above dates, Ekosgen (who have been engaged to carry out the Refresh) will be running a number of themed consultations with other partners such as the business community and voluntary sector. They have already been carrying out a number of one-to-one interviews with partners who have been involved with ESF in the first half of the programme. If you are interested in attending any of these please contact: Stephanie Hardy at the RESP


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean - at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=39 20/10/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter.

The South West Observatory (SWO) Annual Report has been published, detailing network activity over the past 12 months. This year's Annual Report features sections on the Observatory Conference 2009, the emerging Local Economic Assessments, the review of the State of the South West 2010, as well as regular updates from network Modules and LINs. In a further announcement, details of the next SWO policy seminars have also now been confirmed:
- Population/Demography - 5 November 2009 - Gloucester
- Land and Food - 8 December 2009 - Exeter
- Energy - 26 January 2010 - Plymouth
- Skills for the Future - 24 February 2010 - Bristol
More on the SWO website at: http://www.swo.org.uk.


Those with an interest in ESF and ERDF should be aware that the latest South West Competitiveness Newsletter has been released. You can access this here.


The next edition of the South West Skills Newsletter will be introduced by Business Link Chief Executive, Adam Chambers.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean - at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=38 06/10/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter.

SLIM, the SW RESP and the South West RDA have just completed an important piece of research examining the state of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the region. This research, conducted between April 2008 and January 2009, produced a substantial body of evidence. The complete findings of the research project are presented in a Key Findings Report and a series of four detailed Evidence Reports:
- Report 1: Policy Context
- Report 2: Employer Demand for STEM Skills
- Report 3: Supply of STEM Skills in the South West
- Report 4: Stakeholder Views.
A Summary Report presents, in brief, the key findings and recommendations of the research project.

These reports can be downloaded now from: the STEM South West website.


There is also an interesting new publication from NIACE:

Learning Through Life – the definitive report on the future for lifelong learning in the UK, launched late last week, this is the main report from the independent Inquiry into the Future for Lifelong Learning and presents:
- the first authoritative and coherent strategic framework for lifelong learning in the UK for the next 10-15 years
- an overview of the current state of learning in the UK
- radical recommendations for long term change.

The report has attracted a lot of attention - like this report in the Guardian. Sadly, the report is not free. To order a copy you need to click here.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=37 21/09/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I am delighted to release details of SLIM’s new Learning Theme on the extremely timely topic of:

Green Skills, Green Jobs: Opportunities for the South West Low Carbon Economy

The drive towards green jobs and green skills is coming from a range of directions, including: legislation to reduce carbon emissions; public sector investment into, and promotion of, more sustainable technologies, material and ways of living; companies adopting environmental policies and potential market opportunities afforded by renewable energy.

SLIM’s Learning Theme brings together policy-makers and practitioners in the region to understand better the issue of green jobs and green skills.

The Learning Theme will produce up-to-date research reviews, and incorporate a workshop. Through this participants will be able to share ideas, develop recommendations, and indulge in a good dose of networking.

You can download the Introductory Bulletin for this Theme from: Click here.

The Workshop, which is free-of-charge will be held at the Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter, on Friday, 27 November 2009. To guarantee your booking please register asap.

So, if you have something to say about green jobs and green skills then please do take this opportunity to get involved, have your say and hopefully influence policy in the region. All you have to do is complete the form that can be found click here, and send it to us by email, fax or post.

SLIM Learning Themes support the work of the South West Regional Employment and Skills Partnership (SWRESP) and the European Social Fund (ESF) Frameworks in the region.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=36 08/09/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I am delighted to welcome Jeff Brown, Executive Director of HERDA-SW, who will introduce this edition of the South West Skills Newsletter.

"There is a widely acknowledged tenet that recession can, paradoxically, be a time of real opportunity for business. There are many examples of companies that have been able to turn economic constraint to their advantage, emerging from downturn both stronger and more successful.

Who will ride the recession and who will not fare so well is much debated. Most agree, however, it is those companies which are able to identify and develop talent and grasp the chance to evolve in hard times, that are the ones that prosper. So, whether this means giving new responsibilities to talented employees, re-organising, re-training or extending expertise through recruitment, economic downturn can provide the stimulus needed to reassess an organisation’s skill base.

In the South West we are fortunate to have an exceptional resource which not only produces highly-skilled employees but is an extraordinary generator of knowledge and a protagonist of growth. The region’s 13 Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are ideally placed to offer a wide range of support and innovative consultancy services that understand the ‘real-world’ needs of business. With a proven track record of successful collaborative and skill-sharing initiatives such as the Higher Level Skills Project, Knowledge Escalator and Expert South West website, local companies large and small have utilised this HEI expertise.

However, exceptional times demand exceptional measures and the downturn has instigated a dynamic new programme. The good news is that this work is under-pinned by substantial funding. The Higher Education Funding Council for England has awarded South West universities and colleges £2.5m of Economic Challenge Investment Funding (ECIF), which has been match-funded by universities' own funds, partners such as the South West Regional Development Agency, charities and local businesses.

Through this funding, totalling £4.9 million, practical help will be offered to 50,000 people and 11,700 businesses in the form of internships and work placements for new graduates, short targeted courses and vouchers for the unemployed to help them back to work.

Businesses will benefit from a range of initiatives, including courses for workers on reduced working hours in key managerial and financial skills, and placements of graduates with research expertise to support new product and process design.

Though the initial focus is on rapid action and short-term help, universities are also looking to the future, providing people with the professional skills that will be in demand and supporting business development in potential growth sectors when economic recovery gathers pace. In short, our universities and colleges have an important role in helping individuals and businesses respond to the downturn and form lasting profitable partnerships across the South West.

For advice and information about how the region’s universities can help your business go to: http://www.expertsouthwest.com

HERDA-SW is the partnership forum representing the region's 13 Universities and Higher Education Colleges. The organisation aims to promote outstanding knowledge creation, scholarship and creativity, encourage entrepreneurialism and seek practical solutions in order to make a positive impact on the economic growth and social inclusion within the region.

HERDA-SW will become known as Universities South West in November 2009."


Thank you, Jeff


SLIM has launched a new service - the RECESSION BRIEFING - a monthly update with charts and data on the recession and its impact on skills and the labour force. Please SUBSCRIBE by simply sending a blank email to: R.Carey@exeter.ac.uk with ‘Briefing’ in the Subject line. This service is free of charge. The most recent edition can be seen at: click here.


As a concluding note, Firefox users may sometimes struggle to access the links within this newsletter. They can overcome this by downloading the following plug-in: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1419


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=35 20/08/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) A press release received yesterday from the new 'BIS' Department indicates that Government has been looking at opportunities for simplification and they are considering the case for modifying the existing plans for the creation of the Skills Funding Agency by making the RDAs the single body with responsibility for producing the regional skills strategy and being the champion and advocate for skills at the regional level.

Under this scenario, RDAs would be assigned the lead role in identifying, as part of their wider responsibilities for regional economic development, demand side needs for skills in their regions. This will ensure that the regional skills strategy would be integrated within the single regional strategy jointly produced by the RDAs and Local Authorities. The responsibility for allocating funds to, and managing the relationship with, colleges and training providers on the supply side would continue to rest with the Skills Funding Agency.

A copy of the letter that Lord Mandelson sent to the SEEDA Chairman, Jim Brathwaite, can be seen here.


SLIM has launched the important new ‘Moving To Inclusion’ report. This describes the current levels of disadvantage and inequality amongst the population of the South West in labour market terms, and includes an exploration of differences by age, gender, ethnic origin and disability. The documents are intended to provide a baseline for the ESF programme and also include several of the indicators – announced yesterday – that will be used to assess national progress against the Equality Monitoring Framework. Click here.


I have received a couple of positive reports recently regarding the recession and when we may emerge from it. The first is from BDO Stoy Hayward, which suggests the UK economy could see significant improvement by the end of the year. The firm's monthly Output Index has recorded its strongest monthly increase for five years and suggests that the decline in the economy is set to slow by 50% during the last quarter of the year. This would support the Chancellor's prediction that a recovery will begin in Q4 this year. Click here.

The second report (from Visa) indicates that the level of spending among small businesses is growing. Apparently a record number of transactions were made on its business cards by small firms during June 2009, with the amount spent up by 11% compared with the same month in 2008. The two areas where spending has increased the most are temporary staff recruitment and at travel agencies.Click here.

A further report, this time from CEBR, suggests regions in the UK whose economy is heavily reliant on public sector spending will be left behind when the economy starts to recover as the Government slashes public spending. Its latest 'regional prospects report' has predicted that the economy in areas where public sector expenditure makes up a significant part of GDP, will take several years longer than other parts of the UK to recover. Click here.


The next edition of this newsletter will have an editorial focusing upon developments in Higher Education. In anticipation of this we have an update from Student Finance England. The full version is on the SLIM website at: Click here. Student Finance England is the new face of student finance delivery in England. This new centralised service provides customers with information and advice on the student finance available to support them in their studies, and then help them through the application, assessment and repayment processes using a “one-stop-shop” approach.

A variety of separate resources are available to help support partners, all of which are available from the Practitioner Website.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=34 06/08/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Moments before sending out this latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter, I have received an interesting press release from the Government. This reveals the plan to create 10,000 extra higher education places to help more students go to university this year, click here. The places will be in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects – a priority for the South West Regional Skills and Employment Partnership, click here.

The Government will pay the student support costs for full-time undergraduate entrants to STEM subjects - areas which will equip young people with the skills they need for the jobs of the future. The Government is taking this action to invest through the downturn and build a stronger Britain at a time when applications to universities are at their highest ever. This is a fiscally neutral change - the costs of supporting the extra students will be met through reprioritising existing budgets and reducing the optional five year holiday on repayment of student loans to two years.


The summer is traditionally a quiet time for news stories, events and new publications - so please keep the information coming and if you are unsure about what can be submitted then just drop me a line to the usual email address.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=33 20/07/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) During last week I emailed you the first edition of a new publication - the South West Competitiveness Newsletter.

A number of you have had trouble subscribing to this - due to the larger than anticipated level of demand. So, if you have not as yet managed to subscribe, please, try again as the problem has been remedied, or instead, send an email to me with COMPETITIVENESS in the title and I will ensure you are added directly to the list. The new newsletter contained ESF and ERDF stories including three via us here at SLIM on the topics of:
- The extra £55 Million from the exchange rate revaluation - what are the plans?
- Protecting Apprenticeships through the Downturn - Focus on Construction
- ESF Works Website Launch

SW Councils and the National LGA are holding a free event in Exeter on 10 July 2009 on the Council role in responding to the recession. For more information click here. It is free for LGA Members. If you do want to attend there are more details on the flyer, or email making reference to LGA group: from recession to recovery – the council role Friday 10 July 2009, Exeter.

You may recall that between November 2008 and February 2009, Big Lottery Fund held a major consultation exercise to seek views about their strategic development over the coming years. Following on from this, last week saw the launch of the new Strategic Framework: Big Thinking – our Strategic Framework to 2015. The Strategic Framework sets out the type of funder Big Lottery will be between now and 2015 and what they want to achieve in the next six years. It also provides the foundations for our future country and UK-wide funding programmes. click here. On a related note, you can find information about the full Big Lottery recession package here.

My colleague Ben has been working feverishly on the latest Recession Watch Briefing, packed with the latest data, trends and analysis for the region. We will be emailing you very soon to see if you wish to register to receive them directly from us (SLIM). Produced monthly, they come highly recommended.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=32 06/07/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Every two months we invite a member of the SW RESP’s Board to introduce the newsletter. We are delighted that this edition of the newsletter is introduced by Cllr Christine Channon, the new Cabinet Member for Schools on Devon County Council.

At present, Local Government is faced with two main problems regarding the development of skills, namely, delivering the 14-19 agenda and helping people who become unemployed during this recession to re-skill in order to find suitable local employment.

Delivering the 14-19 agenda is proving a real challenge for some schools. Success is patchy throughout the South West and the time has come to press a little firmer on the accelerator pedal. Not all schools have Sixth Forms. Those who do not often have a close relationship with their local FE college. The problem for these schools is to select those children who are most suited to vocational training at 14 and to ensure that they have reached the required level of basic skills. There is plenty of evidence to show that where children have been attracted to a particular training scheme or career and have seen an associated need for literacy and numeracy - they have made an extra effort to acquire the necessary skills to further their training.

In schools with Sixth Forms, sometimes there is a tendency to encourage children who are more suited to vocational training to continue to climb the academic ladder. Some schools try and compete with FE colleges to provide vocational courses. These courses are not always the best and can be an expensive use of school resources. However, in some rural areas of the South West, where transport is a very real problem, there is little alternative to schools making such provision.

So it is vital that schools and colleges work together to offer children and young people an opportunity to develop the skills they will need to find employment in today’s job market. This means that the kind of courses offered should not just be popular ones but should reflect the needs of employers, especially local employers. There is little point, for example, in training dozens of hairdressers for areas where there is already an over-supply when other sectors, such as the Care industry, are crying out for well-trained staff.

The South West, unlike some other regions, does not have masses of large companies offering apprenticeships. Instead we are a stronghold for small businesses but, faced with the present economic climate, these small businesses are finding it difficult to offer apprenticeships to young people. In some authorities this factor makes it difficult to deliver the apprenticeship agenda.

As job losses mount, local government is concerned to encourage people who become unemployed to return to education and to retrain in a sector which is more likely to offer future employment and careers. This training takes place in Community or FE Colleges at vocational level or in our universities at Higher Education level.
____________________

Thank you Christine

Developments have been moving quickly in the SW to establish the Future Jobs Fund. The recent Budget announced:
- A guaranteed offer of a job, work focused training or meaningful activity to all 18 - 24 year olds before they have reached the 12 month stage of their claim to Jobseekers Allowance (JSA).
- The Future Jobs Fund (worth £1billion - up to £6,500 per job). Local Authorities and other organisations can bid to the fund to create jobs, and the aim is to create 150,000 real jobs, paying at least National Minimum Wage, for at least 25 hours per week and lasting for a minimum of 6 months.

To progress the work of the fund in the region, Government Office for the South West held a workshop at Sandy Park, Exeter on 10 June, arranged jointly with Jobcentre Plus and the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, and with the support of the Regional Employment and Skills Partnership. The workshop was well attended with a high degree of interest from Local Authorities and others in submitting bids. Find out more here.


Finally, a quick mention for a new development. There is soon to be a new South West Competitiveness Newsletter that will focus upon the excellent work taking place in the region (excluding Cornwall) within the European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). We will offer you the chance to subscribe to this very soon.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=31 20/06/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) This seems to have been something of a slow week for skills and employment news in the South West, though with the number of major redundancies announced nationally, that may not be a bad thing. There is at least some comfort being offered by examining the proportion of US employers making cuts to their workforces - which has more than halved in the second quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter, with the UK being predicted by the CIPD to follow suit. More on this story here.

In today's newsletter you will find two excellent ESF projects. The first 'Business Forward' will support business owners in rural parts of Cornwall and the second, the 'Achieve Project' is boosting the skills and employability of young people in Gloucestershire.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=30 05/06/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Three interesting new recession publications worth drawing to your attention. The first, from the Office of National Statistics, looks at changes in the labour market since the onset of the recession in 2008. The report shows that the changes in employment rates have been different for men and women, with men showing larger decreases in the year to March 2009. There have also been larger increases in unemployment and redundancy rates for men than women. The report reveals that the largest increases in unemployment rates have been for young people:
- The impact of the recession on the labour market

The second, written by Tom Bewick from the Creative and Cultural Skills SSC, presents a call to look ahead, proposing more comprehensive labour market reforms that aim to protect and develop the UK skills base. It presents practical solutions that can be delivered immediately on a sectoral basis, seeking to build-in competitiveness as we emerge from recession:
- UK Employment and Skills in a Global Recession

The third reviews the evidence on the impact of the last three economic recessions on disadvantaged groups (disabled people, ethnic minorities, lone parents, people aged 50 and over, the 15% lowest qualified, and those living in the most deprived local authority wards), as well as ex-offenders and the self-employed. It goes on to present some possible policy options:
- Review of Evidence on the Impact of Economic Downturn on Disadvantaged Groups


Here at SLIM we are updating and modifying our Recession Watch pages. Recent recession news includes:
- The Government has created a £1 billion Future Jobs Fund to which Local Authorities and other organisations can bid to create around 150,000 new jobs. This link talks about the Fund and how the bidding process will operate. Click here.
- More opportunities for young people as Government funds firms to expand apprenticeships. Click here.
- Employment figures, published last week by the UK Statistics Authority, show another rise in unemployment, though almost 300,000 people left the claimant count last month. Click here.
- One in three firms imposed a pay freeze on workers in April. Click here.
- More jobseekers are applying to and staying in the armed forces, according to the Ministry of Defence. Click here.


I very much enjoyed the recent RESP conference on Higher Level Skills in the Workplace in Exeter. You can find all of the presentations from the event on the RESP website, click here. A report from the event will be available very soon.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to subscribe, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=29 20/05/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter. Last week you should have received our latest SLIM-Comment – looking at the recent “Budget for Jobs”. If you did not receive it, and would like to, please click here.

The South West RDA have just launched their latest South West Regional Economic Profile – this edition being a ‘Recession Special’ that provides an analysis of the state of the South West of England’s economy in light of the current economic trouble. The report includes:
- Jobcentre Plus was notified of just over 12,000 South West redundancies between December 2008 and February 2009, more than treble the numbers recorded a year earlier;
- In the period November 2008 to January 2009, the South West unemployment rate was 5.1%, its highest rate since 1997;
- Growth in exports fell quarter-on-quarter throughout 2008;
- Trade with the European Union fell by 11% in 2008 Q4 compared with one year earlier;
- From a low base, it is the rural and least deprived parts of the South West that have seen the largest rate of increase in unemployment claimants whereas the largest absolute increases have been in urban centres of manufacturing.
The latest South West Regional Economic Profile report can be found by: clicking here.

The South West Councils e-bulletin is also on the topic of the Recession and includes a Compendium of Case Studies – “These are difficult times for the world economy… As the recession starts to bite in the South West, companies and individuals, voluntary groups and the public sector, are all adjusting their plans and activities." For more click here.

Staying on the topic of the recession, we’ve added a ‘News’ section to the already well-stocked Recession Watch pages on the SLIM site.

Learning at Work day rapidly approaches (14 May) so you may be putting the finishing touches to your plans - but don't worry if not. You can find lots of ideas if you haven't much time to plan or if you want something extra for your event on the Learning at Work website.

There is a new vacancy at the South West Observatory Core Unit for a Local Economic Assessments: Evidence Coordinator based in Taunton. You can find details by clicking here. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=28 06/05/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean)
Welcome to the latest South West Skills Newsletter which is introduced by John Wilkinson of the CBI.

"There is no doubt that we are facing economic turbulence of a type and on a scale not experienced before. Far from seeing only weaker businesses failing, the impact of tightening credit conditions has forced many well capitalised firms with strong business models to cut their workforce. All business investment, including training, is under severe cost pressure.

However the CBI’s 2009 Education and Skills Survey shows that despite these challenges employers remain committed to training and continue to understand the importance of skills to their competitiveness. They are working hard to ensure that training does not fall by the wayside during the recession and many firms are seeing the benefit of this to their bottom line, with two fifths saying that training has improved their productivity and profitability.

Most firms are not cutting training spend, but are demanding more “bang for their buck”, targeting training on those areas where they will see the greatest return so they emerge from the downturn in good shape. Here in the South West specific engineering skills are still in high demand.

It is important that Government funding for training, too, is effective in supporting employment and competitiveness. Smaller firms welcome the new flexibilities under the Train to Gain scheme, but more needs to be done to reduce bureaucracy and improve the fit to business needs of apprenticeships and Train to Gain.

The wake-up call provided by the Leitch Review is as relevant as ever. South West employers continue to be concerned about the basic skills (numeracy and literacy) of many school leavers.

The school system will also need to increase the supply of young people who possess a strong foundation in science subjects, in order to meet future needs for employees with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) qualifications. The CBI has called for action to increase the number of young people who study triple science at GCSE, the best base for a study of science at “A” level and beyond.

Employers are agreed that we must not allow the economic downturn to distract attention from the importance of a highly skilled workforce employed in high value added businesses. The United Kingdom must stay ahead in the global market place, focussing on the opportunities presented by the need for new infrastructure and low carbon technologies. Partnership is central to building our future prosperity, with Government, training providers, employees and employers all working together."

John Wilkinson, CBI
20 / 04 / 2009

____________

Thank you, John. I am pleased to announce that we (SLIM) have updated our Recession Watch pages click here where you will find data, presentations, maps and charts. Also on the topic of the recession we have the new:

Real help, right here, right now - business advice South West road show
21 Apr - 19 May 2009, Taunton, Swindon, Bristol, Plymouth, Truro, Bournemouth, Cheltenham and Exeter
Business Link and the South West RDA in partnership with key business support and information organisations in the South West, are offering business owners the opportunity to attend a free-of-charge advice, information and support day. There are choices of seminars for you to attend and you can arrange a meeting with one of our expert business advisers. click here.

SW Regional Employment and Skills Partnership Annual Conference - higher level skills in the workplace - helping the South West HE sector to meet the 2020 World Class Skills Challenge
12 May 2009, Sandy Park, Exeter
A highly skilled workforce has never been more important to business, and the Government is committed to achieving the target of 40% of adults holding higher education qualifications by 2020. This event brings together speakers from business and higher education from other regions in order to:
- Describe models that are being successfully rolled-out; and
- Stimulate increased higher level skills development activity directly between employers, their staff and HE institutions in the South West.
For more information contact Hannah Saxby or click here.

Finally, just room to let you know of a new vacancy for a Senior Economist at Somerset County Council whose role will include:
- acting as lead economic adviser to Somerset County Council
- taking the lead in creating and completing the Somerset Economic Assessment
- identifying, amplifying and illustrating local economic trends
Contact is Lesley Williams Economic Strategy and Partnerships Manager.



For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to register, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=27 20/04/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean)
Welcome to the latest South West Skills Newsletter. For those keeping an active eye on the recession, the Regional Development Agency has established an email address for all new Labour Market data on the recession - to help ensure an effective regional response. The email address is: business@southwestrda.org.uk. Also on the recession:

- UK Recession Scenarios: Impact on SWE Sectors and Places
The key message from this analysis, available from the Business and Economy Module (BEM), is that SWE ‘jobs’ suffer much more than ‘output’. This is a normal pattern during recession. In this region, the important factors are that we are going into the downturn with relatively high household debt ratios but a less exposed business population. This means that the first round effects for South West England are likely to be less than elsewhere, but second round effects may be worse if the baseline forecast proves too optimistic. Under the more severe scenarios, in absolute and relative terms, the negative effects are more widespread, deeper and longer by sector and place across the region. Click here

- The March 2009 edition of the South West Councils e-bulletin is now available
This edition is a recession special. It sets out how some of the region's councils are taking action to support business, help vulnerable households and ensure that, when the upturn comes, we are well placed to recover quickly. Click here.

- Free help and advice for Devon businesses
Roger Lovell, Business Liaison Team Manager for HMRC said: "I am delighted that we are returning to Devon with our Business Advice Open Days. Exeter has a well established business community, but in any successful business time is often a luxury. These events offer a unique opportunity to obtain quality advice from lots of organisations in a ‘one-stop shop’ format, in an environment that’s relaxed and tailored to individual needs. Don’t forget help is available if your business is struggling in the current economic climate." HMRC’s Exeter Business Advice Open Day takes place on Tuesday 7 April 2009 at Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter. Click here


SW Regional Employment and Skills Partnership Annual Conference - Higher level skills in the workplace - helping the South West HE sector to meet the 2020 World Class Skills Challenge
12 May 2009, Sandy Park, Exeter
A highly skilled workforce has never been more important to business, and the Government is committed to achieving the target of 40% of adults holding higher education qualifications by 2020. This event brings together speakers from business and higher education from other regions in order to:
- Describe models that are being successfully rolled-out; and
- Stimulate increased higher level skills development activity directly between employers, their staff and HE institutions in the South West.
For more information contact Hannah Saxby or click here.


There are still a few places left at ‘Skills for Solutions’ - A regional voluntary and community sector workforce development conference to be held at SCAT on 30 April 2009. This event will explore how the new national skills agency 'Skills - Third Sector' can best complement existing workforce development initiatives. For further information contact Debra Horide


Finally, an interesting ‘viral’ marketing campaign targeted at boosting the creative industries in the region. The South West Regional Development Agency is behind this humorous campaign in which a West Country farmer massages the fragile egos of creative types in preparation for harvest. The 4-minute viral, created and seeded by viral agency Rubber Republic, is designed to attract new work and staff to the South West region by raising awareness of its strong creative credentials. If you wish to see the campaign click here.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to register, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=26 06/04/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) The latest statistics for the UK Labour Market have now been released and indicate that we have, as expected, passed the two Million unempoyed figure click here. The latest figures for the South West suggest that we are experiencing the effects of the recession rather more than all but one other region (the South East excluding London) though we are starting from a position of higher overall employment. For the most recent release click here.

At SLIM we have created a new 'Recession Watch' section on the SLIM website for all the latest news, charts and even our first stab at a 'recession-podcast' featuring myself - though it will soon to be superceded by one from Ben Neild, SLIM's Assistant Director click here. Recent recession news and reports include:

Attacking the Recession - How Innovation Can Fight the Downturn. A new report from NESTA click here.

A new website has been launched to help third sector groups overcome the recession, click here

Majority of firms 'unaware' of loan guarantee scheme - The latest Monthly Business Survey from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has revealed that 90% of businesses are unaware that their banks offer the Government's Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme. click here

One in ten UK businesses implement pay freeze - Around 10% of UK firms are putting a pay freeze in place for their staff, according to figures obtained by the BBC. click here


There is a new vacancy at the South West Observatory for a Network Research Co-ordinator to be located at the Observatory Core Unit in Taunton. Salary range is £29-35k per annum. And the closing date for applications is 25 March 2009. Interviews will take place on the 1st of April. For further details click here.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to register, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=25 20/03/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter.

Our Learning Theme conference on Barriers to Training and Skills Development in Rural Areas is rapidly approaching. In this Learning Theme we will explore:
- the extent to which rurality creates barriers to training and skills development, for employers, employees and job-seekers;
- the nature of the barriers and reasons for their existence;
- how these barriers have been and could be overcome.

With the region’s European Social Fund (ESF) Frameworks due for review and our Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Framework under development, we will also examine:
- the ways in which ESF has worked in rural areas;
- lessons for future ESF programme delivery;
- the priorities for skills and business development in farming, food and forestry.

We have over 60 delegates so far but a few places are still available. You can find out more about the event here.

Finally, the South West Observatory’s 6th Annual Conference is almost upon us, this year on the timely topic of ‘Weathering Storms: Regional Resilience and Future Proofing’. It will be held at the Empire Museum in Bristol on 11 March. The flyer reads "Climate change, demographic change and globalised economic change: how resilient is the region now, and how resilient can it be in the future to the known and unknown? While recognising that there will always be immediate and unpredictable events, can we look forward and plan for three, five, ten, fifteen or more years?" This is always an interesting event, and I will certainly be there. To register click here.


For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, to register, or to include an article, event or publication, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=24 06/03/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter. We don't normally run job adverts - but this one, given the timing, is a significant one. The RDA are looking for an Economics & Evidence Manager (maternity cover for up to 12 months) to be based at the SW Regional Development Agency in Exeter click here.

This latest edition of the newsletter is introduced by Richard Bayly of the Government Office for the South West.

"I am delighted to introduce the South West Skills Newsletter as it provides an ideal opportunity for me to report on some of the key actions that we are taking to address the issues facing our region during the economic downturn. It is particularly important that supporting the skills and employment issues in the South West remains one of the key priorities to ensure when we move to recovery the people and businesses in the region are well placed to respond positively and swiftly.

GOSW has a lead role in supporting the work of the Regional Economic Task Group (RETG) which is chaired by the Regional Minister, Ben Bradshaw. There are four strands of work being taken forward: resilience of public services; infrastructure and construction; business; employment and skills.

A People, Employment and Skills group (PESG) has been established, which feeds into the economic task group, and is formally a sub-group of the Regional Employment and Skills Partnership (RESP). This group is coordinating the regional and local response to the announcements of redundancies and closures. A regional hub has been put in place to provide a contact point for the dissemination of intelligence and the co-ordination of joint activity, and area action teams have been convened at the local level and are already working with businesses and individuals on the ground, using existing partnerships and structures.

Due to exchange rate fluctuations a further £18.2m of the European Social Fund has been made available in the SW to support employment and skills actions to address issues for those people now facing redundancy. This will be through a combination of activities via the Learning and Skills Council and Jobcentre Plus. This is in addition to the approx. £90m that has already been contracted and is already enhancing the skills and employment offer to the people in the SW, particularly the most disadvantaged.

The event, ‘Sharing Best Practice-Action for the Future’, that I am pleased to be chairing, is to be held with the RESP and the Local Employment and Skills Boards on 26th February. It will explore how localities can engage fully in tackling the current and future issues that the region is facing. The RESP will be publishing a full report following this event which I hope will help to drive forward actions in the individual areas where direct interventions will have the most impact."

Richard Bayly
20/02/2009

_______

For more information on the South West Skills Newsletter, please contact the Editor - Andy Dean at SLIM. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=23 20/02/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean)

Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter. I would, in particular, like to welcome the large number of new readers who joined us in January - and not forgetting a nod to those of you that have been forwarding the newsletter to others and encouraging them to sign-up... it is much appreciated!

For those of you that are keeping an eye on the recession, the BBC have started a new "Recession Tracker", click here, which includes unemployment, inflation and GDP and they have a separate "Jobs Tracker" click here.

Also on the BBC site are a couple more articles - one on the recession's impact in the South West, click here, and some mixed news on recent redundancies and expansions - the latter mainly in the retail supermarkets and BSkyB, click here.

There have been some important announcements on the Sub-National Review. Featuring a series of policy documents relating to the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill. These include:
- Regional Strategies
- Local Economic Assessment, and
- Sub-Regional Co-operation.

The South West Observatory’s 6th Annual Conference is rapidly approaching, this year on the timely topic of ‘Weathering Storms: Regional Resilience and Future Proofing’. It will be held at the Empire Museum in Bristol on 11 March. The flyer reads "Climate change, demographic change and globalised economic change: how resilient is the region now, and how resilient can it be in the future to the known and unknown? While recognising that there will always be immediate and unpredictable events, can we look forward and plan for three, five, ten, fifteen or more years?" For more information on this event click here.

Finally, just a chance to say that the next edition of the South West Skills Newsletter will be introduced by Richard Bayly from Government Office for the South West.

Regards

Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=22 06/02/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean)

The Government has kept up the tempo of announcements in response to the recession and even included a look at attempting to increase social mobility in relation to the ‘professions’. The more recent papers are given below as links:

New Opportunities Paper - The Prime Minister recently launched plans for building fair chances for everyone to succeed in the new economy. The new paper sets out the Government's agenda for capturing the jobs of the future and investing in families, communities and citizens throughout their lives.

Help for the Unemployed - £83 million to offer around 75,000 people high quality training places to help them back into work over the next two years.

Real Help for Business - Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson, recently unveiled a package of measures designed to address the cash flow, credit and investment needs of small and medium sized businesses.

Panel on Fair Access to the Professions announced - The Panel will comprise senior representatives from the major professions including the law, civil service, military, arts, media and finance.

With so much happening we will try to keep you up to date on events and announcements, and if you are organising anything concerned with skills and employment issues - please send through details and we will happily include it here.

Regards

Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=21 20/01/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean)

Welcome to the first South West Skills Newsletter of 2009, so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year!

It has been a very busy few weeks for all of those engaged in the skills sector, with jobless numbers increasing and new announcements-a-plenty.

There's lots happening in the South West in response to the downturn and we will certainly do our best to keep you abreast of the latest changes.

December saw an excellent RESP Alliance meeting looking in detail at the use of the European Social Fund in relation to local and regional skills planning - and a report from this will be available soon from the RESP website.

Finally, a chance for me to thank all of you that continue to send me your latest news, publications and events - and to wish you all a happy and successful 2009.

Regards

Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=19 09/01/2009 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) We are delighted that Vivienne Rayner MBE, South West Policy Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has agreed to introduce this edition.

Viv writes:

It is a privilege to be invited to introduce the South West Skills Newsletter, a document that is required reading for anyone interested in the skills agenda - and contrary to popular belief that does include small businesses.

For people working in large organisations, be it public sector or business, it can be difficult to understand where small businesses are coming from. They are informal, hate writing things down, do things ‘just in time’ and are generalists not specialists. But this is what enables them to be flexible meeting their customers’ needs and to cover for the inevitable holidays and staff time off for other reasons.

The trouble starts when government or others expect small businesses to adopt ways of working common to large organisations and the acquisition of skills is a very good example.

In a large organisation, training is usually very formal, with a course and trainer and designated budget and allocated time.

In a small organisation, it tends to be on the basis of show, practice and do. And in terms of educational theory, learning that is reinforced by being used soon after is much more likely to be retained. In fact some 75% of small businesses regularly train, but the training is not formal.

One of the problems with formal training is the very size of the business. When you have just four staff, releasing one for training loses you 25% of your workforce. If someone is then off sick, it starts to get difficult.

For some years, small businesses have been asking for courses to be available on a modular basis, so that their staff can do the bits they need to do. And again this fits with educational theory. We are delighted to hear that some courses are now to be offered on this basis and look forward to the same flexibility becoming available on all courses.

And small businesses are big business, especially in the SW where 58% of the private sector workforce is in businesses employing 49 or fewer. We are well aware that many educational organisations regard small businesses as a nuisance because they are small. Yet the rewards for those who develop an effective way of engaging with small business will be substantial. At a time when all businesses are cutting back, any FEI or HEI that develops an effective business model to improve its services to small businesses will be developing sound foundations for the future.

Vivienne Rayner

December 2008 ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=18 18/12/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Lots of significant happenings of late, notably the:
- Pre-Budget Report;
- LSC Statement of Priorities and associated Grant Letter;
- Government response to the Sub-National Review; and
- Tackling Worklessness and the Role of Local Authorities.

You should be able to find SLIM-Comments on each of these on the SLIM website, and the latter two should have been circulated with this edition of the newsletter. All Slim-Comments can be found if you click here.

URGENT BREAKING NEWS for those of you involved in the new INNOVATION and TRANSNATIONALITY, ESF round. The deadline for submission of bids has today been EXTENDED for one month. For the latest information please contact GOSW.

Also from SLIM this week is a one-off Research Brief on the topic of 'Training and business survival during recession'. You should have received a copy earlier this week; if not, it is available from the SLIM-website here.

Finally, there will soon be a vacancy for an ONS Regional Analyst for the South West. The post-holder will work alongside the Regional Statistician in Exeter. For further information click here.

Regards

Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=17 05/12/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest South West Skills Newsletter.

We (SLIM) are in the middle of some interesting new work exploring current understandings, experience and practice of the European Social Fund as the new funding round gets underway across the region. We are looking particularly to highlight how well ESF delivery is linked with other regional and sub regional initiatives 'on the ground'. We are hoping to have the research finalized by early next year - and I’ll make sure all recipients of the newsletter get a chance to see the report.

You will notice that our new Sectors section is now up and running so please feel free to send me through anything relevant - and thanks to those that have already.

Finally, I promised in the last edition to mention the Transversal Study Visit I attended recently. The final report can be found here.

Regards

Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=16 20/11/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) I start this edition by noting the creation of a new 'Third Sector skills body' by the Government. This should seem familiar as it was one of the recommendatations that came form the recent South West Regional Skills Partnership's Alliance meeting on the Voluntary and Community Sector. You can read the others in the paper which can be downloaded here. The next Alliance meeting will be entitled 'ESF - Position and Progress' and will highlight how well ESF delivery is linked with other regional and sub-regional initiatives 'on the ground'. A report from this will be made available later in the year or very early next.

Next a plug for an event happening very soon - on 6 November at Taunton Race Course. It will particularly benefit Training Providers and is linked to Business Improvement Techniques and the Productivity and Competitiveness Process. This is specifically linked to the Manufacturing Alliance (Semta, Proskills, Cogent and Improve SSCs). For more information please contact SEMTA on 0845 643 9001.

Sticking with SEMTA, they have just announced a new Train to Gain Sector Compact that will enable employers in the science, engineering and manufacturing technologies sector in England to access £65 million of Train to Gain funding to invest in skills - with the help of Semta sector experts. For more information use the SEMTA number above.

Finally, having just benefited from a study visit to Gothenburg, I would definitely recommend the Transversal Study Visits Programme to you all. I'll give a little more information on what I did and saw in a future edition - suffice it to say it is an excellent way of understanding how other country's education and skills structures operate and it gives you a new appreciation of the good (and bad!) aspects of our own system. More here.

Please continue to contact me with your latest news, projects, publications and events.

Cheers!

Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=15 04/11/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean)

"2008/9 is a hectic but exciting year for Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). All SSCs are currently going through a re-licensing process. This is viewed as a positive process, as it re-affirms SSCs’ roles and further empowers them with a clear remit. There is a really positive mood across SSCs to embrace these changes and to work with key partners at a national and regional level.

In the South West, the SSCs’ partnership with other key agencies and stakeholders is particularly strong. Working through the newly formed Alliance of Sector Skills Councils (which represents all 25 SSCs both on a national and regional basis), we have entered into formal agreements with the Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) to further build on existing partnerships in the South West. Specific aims of the joint working include:

- Developing an integrated model for intelligence on skills (taking advantage of both employment sector and geographical factors)
- Maximising the benefits of Train to Gain to sectors – including an integrated brokerage model.
- Joint working on key areas such as management development and employability.

The joint working includes joint funding and the integration of sector partnership work into the RSP. Dawn Neale has recently been appointed as the sectors' lead manager within the RSP and has already started to make an impact in further joining up work programmes.

It is clear that with the rapidly changing economic climate, times will be tougher for employers and agencies working across the skills agenda over the next year. Investment in skills is always one of the first casualties in any economic down-turn. Our hope is, that by working together, we can minimise this impact and maintain the investment in skills which will be crucial to all our futures."

Thank you, John

Here at SLIM and the RSP, we are pleased to announce that the South West Skills Newsletter will include a brand new ‘Sector Skills’ section very soon. So if you have any news or events that you would like to include in this section then please send the relevant information to me at the usual email address.

As a taster, here is the latest from Lawrence at ‘Food and Drink’:

National Skills Academy Food and Drink Manufacture held its first Annual Network Conference on Friday 26th September in the South West at CCFRA (now CBRI) in Chipping Campden. The event brought together the Network of Excellence for the first time, and enabled the NSA to celebrate their huge success to date in delivering to over 3000 learners and increasing in size from six to twenty four high quality specialist members and champions.

Training providers in the South West were represented by amongst others Hartpury College and Duchy College Cornwall. Hartpury are specialist members of the Meat and Poultry Network whilst Duchy are specialist members of the Meat and Poultry, Regional and Rural Foods and Dairy networks!

The NSA are seeking to further increase its membership in the South West. Prospective members who are engaged in delivering dairy, meat and poultry, seafood or general food and drink courses/training to food and drink businesses in the South West should contact Lawrence Hewitt - Click here or visit the NSA website for further information or details Click here

SLIM will be running a new Learning Theme soon on 'ESF - Position and Progress' culminating in a workshop in Taunton on the 9th of December. For this Learning Theme we are working with our colleagues at the Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) who are taking a lead in driving forward plans for ESF in the region. The Theme anticipates a ‘refresh’ of the ESF Frameworks due for 2009 and is part of a process of consultation for future developments with regional stakeholders. A key strand of the Theme includes a look at more local initiatives - led by Local Government, Sub Regional Partnerships and Employment and Skills Boards – and exploring their linkages with ESF ‘on the ground’. There will be further news and resources on the Learning Theme pages of the SLIM website at: Click here ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=14 20/10/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the eighth edition of the South West Skills Newsletter.

I’d like to start by plugging a number of new reports and services available to support your work:

1. The South West Regional Skills Partnership (SWRSP) have just put two very useful new Booklet Guides onto their website on:
- National Skills Academies- an Overview and SW Activity, and
- Sector Skills in the South West
Both are available to download from the bottom of this web page: RSP's Sector Operations Group

2. The South West Observatory Network’s Annual Report for 2007/08 is now available. This report covers the Observatory's activities in 2008 and the prospects set out for its future work. It demonstrates the wider Observatory partnership cooperating in the development of a 'common understanding' of the South West and serving the needs of its thematic and geographical stakeholders. You can order a copy by contacting Rachel at the Core Unit.

3. The latest regional unemployment data are now available from SLIM at The SLIM Website.

4. 'The South West of England Economy: A joint response to changing economic circumstances' is a new report prepared for Government by the RDA and available to download Here

There is an exciting new job opportunity to work in the region as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Partnership Manager on a 33 month fixed-term/secondment opportunity until July 2011 in Taunton. Based at the RSP. More information on this in the RSP section of the Newsletter, below.

Finally a chance to plug this excellent opportunity to see one of the UK’s finest speakers - Sir Ken Robinson - at the University of Exeter, in a Leadership South West Event on 28 November. He is speaking on the topic of, ‘All our Futures: Business and Education in Partnership for Tomorrow’. Find out more Here. As a taster and if you cannot attend the event, you can see one of Ken’s excellent, and inspiring, presentations online Here. ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=13 06/10/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter.

At a difficult time for the economy we bring you the latest Labour Market data plus a number of interesting new reports.

This week I attended the recent RSP Alliance meeting on the topic of 'Skills in the Voluntary and Community Sector'. I'll be writing up the conclusions soon and will pass them on in a future edition of this newsletter. The report from the previous meeting on the topic of Challenges for the Further Education Sector is available here.

Here at SLIM we brought out a new SLIM-Comment on the recent Migration skills shortages announcements - that you can access here.

For those of you that like to print-out copies of this newsletter, we will be putting .pdf versions on our website alongside the electronic copies.

Regards

Andy Dean
Editor ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=12 22/09/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Welcome to the latest edition of the South West Skills Newsletter.

This edition includes two important updates, the first looking at the work of the South West Regional Skills Partnership and the second exploring the latest developments of the South West ESF Programme - including an important event for ESF providers later this month.

Finally, I have included details of the latest Lifelong Learning Programme Information Days (Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes) - please note that places are limited, so register online asap.

Regards

Andy Dean
]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=11 05/09/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) "As we start the new academic and contract year the LSC focus is on some key priorities.

For young people we are working with local authorities and other partners to ensure that there is a suitable place for every 16 and 17 year old which will encourage even more to stay in learning. This includes promotion of apprenticeships and we are seeing record numbers of young people choosing this route. Successful introduction of the new diplomas is also a key objective.

For adults and employers our priority is to secure continued growth of demand for the Train to Gain service, including adult Apprenticeships. Feedback from employers demonstrates a high level of satisfaction when the service is used. But we need to persuade more employers, in the public as well as private sectors, of the value of investing in their people. We are introducing greater flexibility within the Train to Gain service to help achieve this. We are also currently running a major campaign aimed at employers.

We are working with Jobcentre Plus to ‘join up’ employment and skills support. We aim to ensure that people looking to join, or re-join, the labour market invest in their own skills and continue to do so when in employment.

During the coming year we will see the launch of the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and the South West is one of three regions leading the way.

Investment in the skills infrastructure is also a high priority. The South West has done well compared with other regions but there is more to do if we are to secure continued performance and quality improvement.

An interesting and challenging year to come!"

Malcolm Gillespie ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=10 27/08/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) We've been busy here at SLIM with a couple of personnel changes - Pete Whalley has left to open his new shop in Falmouth called 'Head for the Beach' which is "an exciting new shop stocking the best in environmentally-aware beach and alternative lifestyle clothes and accessories". His role will be taken by Hilary Stevens - whom many of you will know from her excellent work with SWOOP and before that with the SW Observatory.

Which just leaves me space to wish you an enjoyable Summer, and I hope you get the chance to re-charge your batteries ready for another Autumn of new announcements, policies and challenges.

Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=9 06/08/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) Important announcements this issue include:
- Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the SW
- SWRDA exceeds expectations says BERR
- New Marketing Campaign in the SW for Train to Gain

Also in this edition is an update on the work in the region on Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

I'm pleased to see that our (SLIM's) South West report into young people in jobs without training is getting a fair bit of interest. Here's an article, which is one of many: Click here
And here is a link to the Summary Report: Click here

Finally, from all of us here at SLIM and the South West RSP - we hope you have a great, and relaxing, Summer.

Cheers!

Andy Dean ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=8 25/07/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) For those of you that prefer to print the newsletter - this should be possible using the usual 'File' and 'Print' commands - but again any problems and let me know.

Finally, thanks for the positive feedback on the new Newsletter and keep in touch! Andy ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=7 08/07/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean) It is my pleasure to introduce the first edition of the South West Skills Newsletter. This new publication brings together SLIM-lines and the South West Regional Skills Partnership (SW RSP) newsletter incorporating information on the region's ESF programmes. The intention is to provide you with information on regional and national skills news, events and publications all in one place.

This is a time of considerable change. It is also, however, a time of great opportunity to really influence what is happening on skills regionally and locally. The SW RSP is exceptionally fortunate in having a partnership of truly committed individuals and organisations that really want to make a difference for both business and the individual. The South West's history of successful partnership working is a crucial ingredient if we are to make the necessary improvements in skills, employment and productivity.

I am delighted to welcome 2 new placement students to the Regional Skills Partnership - Hannah Saxby who will look after communications and Jennie Holder who will work on Sector Skills. We also wish a fond farewell to Bryony Judd who has made an outstanding contribution to the team over the last 12 months. We wish her well in her final year of study. We are also now in the process of recruiting a Sector Skills Manager to drive the Sector Operations Group (the new format will be launched this September) and to develop a 'South West Team' approach to regional Sector Skills activity. Over the next couple of months we will also refresh the South West RSP's website to ensure that it is as easily accessible and informative as possible - you can access the current website at: http://www.swrsp.org.uk

If you have items for inclusion in future editions of this newsletter, or any comments or feedback on the new format please contact Andy Dean at SLIM who is the Editor of the South West Skills Newsletter.

Jim Neilson, Director of the South West Regional Skills Partnership ]]> http://www.swslim.org.uk/news/swskills/newsletterb.asp?EditionDateID=6 24/06/2008 12:00:00 GMT a.dean@exeter.ac.uk (Andy Dean)