Major skill launch

The largest ever review of skills in Coventry and Warwickshire has been launched at a major event.

Around 150 representatives from education, training and business attended the launch at Coventry University of the new strategy which has been drawn up by the Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP).

The Skills Board of the CWLEP – a partnership designed to drive forward the local economy – has spent three months drawing up a skills strategy.

The strategy has identified three priorities for Coventry and Warwickshire – using skills to drive growth and create jobs, developing skills to tackle unemployment and ensuring a better fit between education and employment.

Dr Richard Hutchins, LEP Board Member and LEP Skills Champion, said the session had given an opportunity for feedback on the strategy, a process that would continue over the coming weeks.

He said: “It was a very successful event and there was a very good mix of educational representatives as well as business, and that is key to the success because the aim is not to replace what is going on but to add to it, ensuring all bases are covered to promote the development of a highly-skilled workforce.

“We are now undertaking sessions with key stakeholders to ensure that we have a complete picture of the local skills environment so all providers are able to comment on the strategy and to ensure we are all performing with the bigger picture in mind.

“The sole aim of the LEP is to help grow the economy, help create jobs and provide the skills which our industries need.”

The draft strategy is available on the CWLEP website at www.cwlep.com/downloads