Overview of Skills Issues
in North Wales
IWAN THOMAS
Regional Skills & Employment Coordinator
On behalf of the North Wales Economic Ambitions Board
The Economic Ambition Board
• Consensus amongst partners to provide the basis for
clear, strong and focused direction
• Stronger emphasis on delivery within key priority areas
• Cross sector representation to reflect the needs of the
regional economy
• Involvement by the private sector is key to providing a
rounded approach
Priority Programme Areas
Energy & Environment
Advanced Manufacturing
Destination North Wales
• ‘Skills & Employment’, ‘Infrastructure’, and
‘Procurement’, are items which underpin each
of the above
Regional Plan -does one size fit all?
• Acknowledgement of diversity within the
region
• Sub-regional culture
• Local priorities
• Underpinned by commonalities which all can
share
Our current and future target market
• Currently 123,684 young people aged 0-15 in
North Wales (17.9%)
• Currently 75,638 young people aged 16-24 in
North Wales (10.95%)
Your Future Workforce…?
• Academic achievement in North Wales
continues to increase and exceed the Welsh
average
• How do we support, develop and retain this
talent?
Academic Year 2011-12 / Welsh average 51.1%
Source: North Wales Economic Observatory / Welsh Government, 2012
EU Funding opportunities…?
• The current Economic Framework document
for skills and employment focuses on:
• Pre-employment
– Young people in education & training (incl. NEETS)
– Unemployed and economically inactive
• In-employment
– Those currently in employment with skills needs and wishing to
progress
• Underpinned by engagement with the private
sector to tailor skills to employer needs
Economic Opportunities – Skills Needs?
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•
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•
•
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New Wylfa powerstation
Wind & marine power developments
Gwynt y Mor
Holyhead waterfront development
Surf Snowdonia
Colwyn Bay regeneration
Llandudno hotel investments
Economic Opportunities – Skills Needs?
• Rhyl regeneration
• 21st Century Schools
• Northern Gateway development within
Deeside Enterprise Zone
• North Wales Energy from Waste facility
• North Wales Advanced Manufacturing Skills &
Technology Park
Economic Opportunities – Skills Needs?
•
•
•
•
•
Hydro Electric Scheme Llanberis
Pwllheli Sailing Academy
Caernarfon by-pass
New Wrexham Prison
New housing and business units
Issues to be addressed?
• Employability skills of our young people
• More coordinated exposure to employers and
work experience
• Promotion of regional and local economic
priorities
• More coordinated employer engagement with
schools, colleges and universities aligned with
above
• Mapping of future opportunities to help
inform curriculum planning
The Regional Plan
• 12 month timeline
• Engagement with public and private sector
• Endorsement once complete, by the North
Wales Economic Ambition Board
• To be used/adopted by regional partners as a
guide and evidence base going forward
• Revisited and updated as required
• Supporting partners & the regional economy
Diolch yn fawr / Thank you
IWAN THOMAS
Regional Skills & Employment Coordinator
On behalf of the North Wales Economic Ambitions Board
IwanThomas@gwynedd.gov.uk
Iwan.Thomas@dataunitwales.gov.uk