An ambitious new transformational skills plan, co-designed by the City Council, key city employers, education and training providers has been approved by Cabinet today.
The five year ‘Skills 4 Plymouth’ plan is the city’s first ever strategy specifically focused on shaping the skills agenda both now and in the future. The plan aims to ensure people have the right skills they need to enter into and progress in work and that employers have people with the right skills they need for recovery and growth.
Across the UK, the COVID-19 pandemic and exit from the European Union has fundamentally changed the skills landscape and skills gaps and shortages are evident across all sectors, with many local employers struggling to attract, recruit and retain people with the right skills. The Skills 4 Plymouth plan has been launched as a direct response to tackling these challenges.
Councillor Charlotte Carlyle, Cabinet member for Education, Skills, Children and Young People, said: “Plymouth is an amazing place to live and work and home to world leading, thriving businesses and high value jobs in manufacturing, marine and defence sector as well as rapidly growing digital and health tech sectors.
"We recognise that we do not have enough engineers, technicians, construction professionals and tradespeople, health care professionals, front line care workers, or hospitality and tourism workers to meet the growing demand of our local businesses and key growth sectors. I am delighted to launch the Skills 4 Plymouth five year plan which will ensure that we improve productivity and enable growth so that Plymouth will experience far fewer skills challenges in the future.”
The Skills 4 Plymouth plan will be underpinned by an action plan and dashboard, which will be overseen by the Employment and Skills Board.
Paul Turner, HR Director of Princess Yachts and Chair of Plymouth’s Employment and Skills Board (ESB), said: “We have been working hard on developing the city’s first ever Skills Plan. I am excited to play my part, both as an employer and as Chair of ESB in overseeing the strategy’s successful delivery.
“Our Skills Plan puts employers firmly at the heart of defining the local skills needs, ensuring our coordinated actions are demand led and demand informed. Through working together, I am confident that we will deliver a responsive, single skills system that meets the needs of local employers, and where local people across all ages and all communities can access skills, jobs and support for career progression right on their doorstep, enabling them to thrive in the city.”
Read the Skills 4 Plymouth strategic plan here.