Agenda item

The Cabinet report provides details of the Northumberland Strategic Skills Plan 2021-25, a document designed to guide skills planning and the approach in designing impactful vocational skills provision within the county to yield greatest impact for residents and the local economy. Comments made by this Committee will be reported to Cabinet on 7 December 2021.

The Cabinet report provided details of the Northumberland Strategic Skills Plan 2021-25 which had been designed to guide skills planning and the approach in designing impactful vocational skills provision within the County to yield greatest impact for residents and the local economy.  An introduction to the report was provided by N Dorward, Senior Manager - Education Development & Collaborative Projects with the aid of a power point presentation.  The Plan provided a clear presentation of the vocational education ambition for Northumberland and would be a powerful tool to communicate the County vision to inward investors and how workforce building could be supported.

The Chair suggested that this could be used as a template for schools at an early stage so that the world of work was embedded from primary levels right through to post 16.  A Kingham, Service Director – Education and Skills advised that the link between education and industry had been undeveloped and the challenge was how to improve this.  The approach would allow the link to start at a much younger age and would assist to raise the ambitions and aspirations of children in the County and to engage industry. 

Councillor Renner-Thompson advised that this was a priority of the Administration and would enable students to progress and support some of the organisations which were making huge investments in Northumberland, showed forward thinking in the educational offer and would contribute to the wider north east economy.

In response to questions, Members were advised that this was a vocational skills based plan, would allow technical progression and allow students to be apprenticeship ready.  Work would be undertaken in conjunction with Northumberland College to develop opportunities for 14-16 year olds and a fabricating/welding training facility within the Port of Blyth was part of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Members highlighted the need for different skill sets required for important roles which had previously been seen as unpopular choices and the need to ensure that these were seen as career pathways.  In response to a request to include the “arts” so that STEM became STEAM in order to be more inclusive,  Members were advised that the whole strategy around the plan was inclusion at every level and to make sure that there were opportunities for all.  Work had been undertaken with both NTCA and NECA to look at opportunities collectively around inclusion and looking at the most disadvantaged areas and reach into these areas and engage with industries to do this.  Assurance was provided that it had not been missed and was included in all approaches.

The Chair advised that the document was part of wider system changes which were required to be acted upon.  It formed part of the holistic approach to get a mobilised workforce which was fit for the future.  Members were reminded that this was an action from the Education Report from the previous year and would be delivered in conjunction with wider partners and whilst it was a NCC document it was for the whole of Northumberland.

RESOLVED that Cabinet be advised that this Committee supported the recommendations as outlined in the report.