Devon County Council

Productive Skills for Devon Updating & Networking Event held on 14th June 2007

'The Productive Skills for Devon (PSfD) Partnership demonstrated at this event, its ability to directly connect to the business community as well as professionals in the skills arena. The skills issue is the single most important agenda for us in Devon, and we will be pursuing this with vigour' said Jeremy Filmer-Bennett, Chief Executive of Devon and Cornwall Business Council.

The Productive Skills for Devon initiative seeks to improve economic well-being of individuals and businesses through skills development activity, as outlined in the Learning and Skills Council's 'Regional Commissioning Plan 2007/08 by: developing a highly skilled workforce which meets the needs of employers in our area; developing the skills of the workforce to enable them to contribute to the South West economy; creating a skills infrastructure which is responsive and demand led.

• Introduction (49KB - pdf help)
• Regional Skills Priorities (310KB - pdf help)
• Skills Gaps in Devon (54KB - pdf help)
• The Sector Skills Approach (916KB - pdf help)

‘Skills’ is high on the agenda for many organisations and it is a time of change in the organisation, content and funding of vocational training. The prime purpose of this June event was to help networking between employers, training providers and business support agencies.  This was done by meeting together and hearing a set of speakers inform them of skills priorities, skills gaps in the economy and the scope of future funding. There was a focus on specific economic sectors and particular reference to the new diplomas for 14-19 year olds which focus on skill areas. In addition, the services of Train to Gain and the Training Provider Network were outlined to the group.

• European Social Fund Update (9KB - pdf help)
• Policy and Practice 14-19 Diplomas (13KB - pdf help)
• Train to Gain (101KB - pdf help)
• Training Provider Network (25KB - pdf help)

The event was very successful in that it; provided support for PSfD to become the employer and skills board for Devon, linking with the Regional Skills Partnership; offered further networking opportunities to strengthen employer engagement with the adult skills agenda; provided clarification to businesses on the benefits of investment in training; and offered opportunities for more co-operative working amongst employers to facilitate access to appropriate training.

Further events of this type will be organised in other parts of the county and with a range of businesses.