Employment and Skills Framework

Background

Since publication of the Employment and Skills Plan: Skilled People, Better Jobs (2016-2020) there has been significant progress against many of its priorities. There have also been notable changes in the landscape over the last five years, including the January 2021 publication of the cross departmental, Department for Education-led White Paper, ‘Skills for Jobs’.

In order to maintain flexibility whilst ensuring that the region’s employment and skills priorities remain strategic and clear, the refreshed Employment and Skills Plan has therefore been published as an Employment and Skills Framework. The framework includes high-level priorities, indicative actions and a sectoral focus, whilst allowing more detailed plans to be formed as part of the LEP and Combined Authority’s ongoing employment and skills agenda.

The Employment and Skills Framework is a key document of the Strategic Economic Framework (SEF). The SEF sets out five priorities that will contribute to the Combined Authority’s vision for West Yorkshire

‘to be recognised globally as a place with a strong, successful economy where everyone can build great businesses, careers and lives supported by a superb environment and world-class infrastructure.’

The Combined Authority works in partnership with its local authority partners of West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield). It has recently secured a £1.8 billion devolution deal from government, including responsibility for £65m a year in spending on adult skills from August 2021. The Combined Authority works closely with employers and training providers in the region and secures funding for training courses and employment support.

Consultation and Engagement

During summer 2020, Officers from the Combined Authority held focus group workshops with over 200 key stakeholders and partners. Participants were invited to discuss the strengths, challenges and priorities for employment and skills in West Yorkshire. In addition, a public engagement exercise took place between 11 August – 6 September 2020, inviting individuals, businesses, education and training providers, and third sector organisations with an interest in the employment and skills landscape to share their views. A detailed report on the 113 responses received from the survey can be found on the Your Voice website. This document summarises how the feedback provided throughout the survey and workshops has been considered in the development of the new Employment and Skills Framework.

Next Steps:

The Employment and Skills Framework is now published as part of the Strategic Economic Framework.