Devon County Council works with a range of partners to ensure that Devon has a workforce that is skilled and motivated to ensure that local businesses can be productive and profitable. This includes: improving skills attainment amongst employees and our future workforce, 14-19 year olds, improving graduate retention rates and career opportunities to retain skills and knowledge within the county.
A summary of Devon County Council's work, together with those of other partners, is included below:
Productive Skills for Devon and Somerset:
This network brings together the members and co-ordinators from the 5 Employment and Skills Boards along with representatives from other strategic partners.
There are 5 local ESB's in the Footprint of the Heart of the South West LEP who work on a collaborative basis, whilst maintaining a local identity, to promote skills development within their localities.
The Worklessness Forum brings together a range of key agencies from the statutory and voluntary sectors to work together to increase the number of successful outcomes for unemployed people and employers.
Okehampton Works was set up in response to the recent difficulties in local job market. A range of proposals were drawn up and continuing support is being offered by training providers and partners alike.
Workforce Skills and Backing Young Devon Activity:
As part of its Workforce Skills Development and support for Young People Devon County Council has provided funding for 9 projects are delivering a variety of activities across 5 priority areas as follows:
A. Enterprise Education
B. Work Experience
C. Linking Education and Employers
D. Apprenticeships – support for employers
E. Developing the skills of the Devon workforce
The nine successful projects are briefly outlined at Skills Projects.
Other useful links
Europe
The European Economy has far reaching effects including it's impact upon the Devon economy. For more information on this along with a range of funding opportunities follow the link to the European Pages.
Business Support
A range of support and advice is available to help businesses grow and develop, for more information have a look at the business advice and support pages.
The Skills Funding Agency's main function is to direct funding quickly and efficiently to further education colleges and other skills providers.
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
'Our mission is to build a dynamic and competitive economy by: creating the conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed.
UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)
The role of the commission is to provide independent advice to the highest levels of Government on steps required to achieve world class standing in employment and skills by 2020.