From FRESA to SWESA

As the SWESA is moved forward, the following three FRESA sub-groups will no longer continue:
Engaging employers – FS01
Inspiring individuals – FS02
Working for a natural balance – FS03

The fourth subgroup, SWESRF - The SW Employment and Skills Research Forum will continue. SWESRF has a primary remit to advise the SWESA and task and finish groups on employment and skills research matters.

These FRESA pages remain here as an archive of information.

The South West Framework for Employment and Skills Action (FRESA) is a plan identifying what needs to happen to create a healthy labour market in the South West.

Developed in response to guidance from DTI, DWP and DfES, the FRESA sets out a vision for the future of the labour market in the South west and identifies a series of Strategic Objectives and Actions designed required to achieve the vision.

The FRESA is the over-arching skills and employment strategy for the South West, providing a focus for the development of collaborative and coherent skills interventions by agencies across the region.

The Strategic Objectives of the FRESA were:

• Objective 1 - To increase employers' commitment to skills development
• Objective 2 - To raise individuals aspirations and skills for working in the South West
• Objective 3 - To develop the efficient and inclusive working of the South West Labour Market

A healthy labour market adapts smoothly to change to ensure the most effective balance between the jobs and skills needed for the development of a divers, innovative and productive economy, and the number and skills of people available for work.

The most significant features of a healthy labour market are:

• A market which functions efficiently and equitably to match demand with supply
• A strong demand for labour, in terms of the quantity and quality of jobs generated by the labour market
• A strong supply of labour, in terms of the numbers and characteristics of people available to take jobs
• A market in which there are appropriate supporting conditions for education, training and workforce development, welfare benefits and childcare provision; and adequate provision of housing, employment land and transport infrastructure.