Skills Development

Linking closely with Employment Creation and Job Security is Skills Development.

Lord Leitch in his influential report on adult learning in 2006 highlighted the need for Britain to raise qualifications in order to be globally competitive. By 2020 Britain needs to have more than 40% of the population qualified to level 4(foundation degree) or above (up from 29% in 2005) and 90% of adults need to be at least level 2 (GCSE) qualified (69% 2005). Given that 70% of the 2020 workforce is already in the labour market these are challenging targets.

However, in North Norfolk we are encouraging a culture of lifelong learning and this is needed if we are to contribute to the achievement of these targets. However, we must be careful that we do not substitute a skills strategy for a qualifications strategy. In practical terms we find that there are many unqualified competent people in the workforce. The advantage to them of gaining a qualification can be gauged in terms of increased confidence and a piece of paper which can be carried from employer to employer as evidence of their ability – transferable skills?. This will help individuals take more control of their personal development and it is vital that they do this. Employers will often want people trained to be competent not necessarily qualified – by encouraging the learning culture, the individual will take the final steps to gain the qualification for their own portfolio.

In practical terms EDU though the North Norfolk Skills Partnership and L4E is looking to encourage generic courses to be available locally across the District – literacy, numeracy and IT. Initiatives such as Empower U and Biz Admin go some way to meet this need. The IAG Gateways help to promote current provision and to identify need for the planning of future provision. In addition IAG Gateways can signpost individuals to training further afield. Another initiative, Virtual Business Support, is creating a web platform so that entrepreneurial skills can be delivered virtually. These initiatives help to make the delivery of training more accessible in North Norfolk. (see Products and Services).

Leitch is moving the delivery of skills to being demand led. The North Norfolk Skills Partnership is supporting this by helping to raise awareness about the major central initiatives such as Train to Gain and Apprenticeships – both are very challenging in the North Norfolk business environment with a predominance of micro businesses. In addition the Partnership is supporting the development of 14-19 Diplomas and is working with the Business Forum to have Diplomas delivered locally which will produce the skills needed by local businesses.