Good Practice Case Studies in Sector Skills Development

This report, written to support the BMG sector skills mapping exercise, includes details of 75 skill development initiatives in advanced engineering, food and drink, ICT, tourism, and other sectors.Analysis of initiatives reveals that they can be classified into three main types: establishing networks, upskilling existing employees and attracting/training new recruits to the industry. A further distinction is the degree to which they incorporate online computerised technology. It is also proposed that sector development initiatives have three main drivers: employer-centred, employee-centred and strategic.

A number of good practice lessons are extracted and recommendations made on how to devise initiatives so that they encourage the involvement of employers and address longer-term sector development strategies.

This report is intended as a working document - giving an example of the range of initiatives being performed across the country and some preliminary conclusions and recommendations on best practice. It is not intended to be treated as a rigorous academic analysis, nor as a comprehensive review of sectoral initiatives. We are aware that there are many other innovative sector development initiatives underway both in the region and further afield and are looking to develop this section of the site by adding new case studies and information on relevant initiatives. Therefore, if you are involved with or know of other sector skills development initiatives which you believe should be added to our database please contact us and send us further details.

Click the links or scroll down the page to browse good practice case studies by sector.

ADVANCED ENGINEERING	Aerospace Integrated Graduate Development Scheme (IGDS) South West Regional Integrated Graduate Development Scheme (IGDS) in Competitive Product Engineering Employer Learning Network for the Body Repair and Refinishing Trade Bluer Sky Greener Grass Formula Schools Bridging information technology skills Corporate virtual university: BAA Establishing learning partnerships within supply chains Spreading learning through a supplier development programme case study: Frederick Woolley Industry forum builds global competitiveness Online learning system for vehicle sales executives (DRIVE) Spreading learning through change agents case study: Rover Group Spreading learning through the supply chain case study: NASTECH The automotive industry in the West Midlands Towards a vision of recurrent education
FOOD AND DRINK	Food and Drink Net Bakery Training Council - Employers Learning Network The Development of an Innovative Production System for On-Line, Interactive Training materials for the Food Industry Sainsbury's Supplier Development Programme Employee development schemes - Horizon Biscuits Spreading learning through a supplier development programme case study: Sainsbury's The food quality project
ICT	IT Base - IT Skills Development Initiative FutureSkills, Solutions for IT Services Skills E-Skills NTO - Developing Employer Learning Networks Digital Peninsula Training for Convergence - South West Attachment Scheme Corporate virtual university: Sema Group E-commerce and the new media technologies Employee development schemes - BICC Interactive digital education and learning (IDEAL) Language, multimedia and technology transfer for SME growth in European markets Midlands media training consortium (MMTC) project Open and work based learning in advanced telecommunications (OWLATEL) The use and application of telematic training by small firms within a European context: implications for teaching and learning in the digital age Yorkshire does IT well
TOURISM	People in Tourism North West Tourism Skills and Employment Network All change - new market opportunities in tourism for redundant engineers Guidance and information in a virtual environment (GIVE) for the hospitality, catering, leisure and tourism industry (HCLT) Hospitality adding value for education (HAVE) final report - Hotel and Catering International Management Association (HCIMA) Job-rotation utilising New Deal to provide training to the hotel/leisure sector Towards the learning organisation Training adventure for cultural businesses
CONSTRUCTION	Producing a Web based tool to promote professional development and lifelong learning amongst construction managers Regional construction industry: Careers Advice and Guidance Service - Training Organisation for Professionals in Construction (TOPIC) Women in construction project
MARINE AND OFFSHORE INDUSTRIES	MARSK III - Application of Marine Skills Analysis CRINE network Grimsby fish processors' training club NVQs to accelerate career, pay progression at GEC Marconi Marine
BIOTECHNOLOGY	No case studies at present
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY	No case studies at present
MULTI-SECTOR	Workforce Development Programme Let's Do I.T.! Investors in People Sector Development Research Project Teaching Company Scheme (TCS) Learning networks for SMEs - University of Plymouth The NetMet management guide: FASNET - the Irish experience The PRISM Project Whitby IT Club cluster
OTHER SECTOR (non SWRDA priority)	Strategic Training in Apparel and Textiles (STAT) LearnOnline Employee development schemes - First Data Resources Implementing distance learning in Barclays Bank Footwear industry project on optimising information technology Industrial adaptation through sector-based co-operative networks Strengthening the craft sector in Wales through technology - TELE 21 Regional Accord for Change (REACH) The Care sector project The gas industry The rail industry EXCEL retail project Return to work course: retail sector pilot Towards a healthy high street: Training the independent retailer
NON-SECTOR SPECIFIC	Dorset BusinessXChange Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative - Employer Learning Network

Please note that many of the case studies listed are drawn from the Marchmont Good Practice Database - a collection of workforce development case studies collated by researchers to the Open University, University of Exeter and elsewhere.

The report can be downloaded in two parts and/or individual case studies browsed by sector.

Part 1: Methods and Outcomes (pdf 1.2MB)

Part 2: Case Studies (pdf 1.0MB)

Contact us for a hard copy of the report

• Advanced Engineering
• Biotechnology
• Food and drink
• Environmental Technology
• ICT
• Multi Sector
• Tourism
• Other sector (non SWRDA priority)
• Non sector specific
• Marine and Offshore industries