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Industrial strategies have come and gone over the years, and few have really had any lasting effect because they have lacked support from the Government. However, the latest announcement by the Prime Minister at her first cabinet meeting outside London seems to have at its heart perhaps the greatest challenge we have in UK industry - the lack of skills development. The Government’s Green Paper talks of a string of


new Institutes of Technology in England and Wales for students from 16-19 years of age. Students will get solid trade skills - particularly in engineering and construction. Throughout this region, the skills gap is widening


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so we must encourage more young people to study the STEM subjects - science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Greg Clark, the Business Minister, talks of a new emphasis on vocational skills for non-graduates in the strategy. This is absolutely right. Our young people need to know all the options available to them and the job potential linked to each option. For some, university is a good option but it is not


‘An apprenticeship is an alternative option for a young person who wants to develop their skills in the world of work’


good enough to leave university with a degree alone. At graduation, students also need to have tangible skills to put in front of an employer. Our surveys show that businesses are constantly calling for this. An apprenticeship is an alternative option for a young person who wants to develop their


skills in the world of work. There are great opportunities at world-class companies in the South West like Airbus and Renishaw. And the higher apprenticeship degrees at university enable the bright young stars to be


paid as they get their additional qualifications. While the Government rightly pushes apprenticeships, I am afraid that they have not done a great job so far in selling the advantages of the apprenticeship levy - to be introduced in April this year. This is why we have launched Skills West, a new impartial skills service to help businesses tackle the growing skills shortage across the region. Providing free impartial skills advice tailored to business needs across the West of England, it will bring businesses and skills provision closer together to help solve many of the growing challenges.


If you’d like to find out more about how Skills West can help your business visit www.businesswest.co.uk/skills, call 0330 124 4446 or email skillswest@businesswest.co.uk


PHIL SMITH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS WEST


MARCH/APRIL 2017 insight 3


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