Business leaders in Greater Manchester have praised the role employers have played in tackling skills shortages in the city-region.
Following the publication of the government’s Skills for Jobs White Paper which calls for closer relationships between business and further education, business leaders in the region have welcomed the role of employers in existing skills initiatives in the region, including the FastTrack Digital Data Academy.
The academy, financed by the GMCA Digital Workforce Fund and delivered by Salford University, teaches a program informed by leading employers such as Bupa, TalkTalk and the BBC, that provides the skills for more people to secure jobs in data analysis.
Lou Cordwell, Chair of Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (GM LEP), said:
In Greater Manchester we recognise that businesses have a crucial role to play in our skills system. They can signpost the skills gaps, ensure the content of courses is relevant and give people a clear pathway to employment.
“The projects supported under the Fast Track programme show how this approach can work for the benefit of all. They offer people an opportunity to upskill or reskill in a field where employment prospects are strong, such as data analysis and cloud engineering
“The World Economic Forum predicts a ‘reskilling emergency’ playing out over the next decade. We need to be ready to respond, and that is why our Economic Vision calls for an integrated pipeline for talent, skills and progression.”
Katie Dwyer, a former retail worker who took part in the Fast Track Digital Data Academy scheme, described her experience, saying:
What the course does really well is provide realistic expectations of what an employer would want. They make it tangible and advise how to adapt your skills into whatever career you choose, so these skills can be transferred into whatever area of data you want to work in.
“Another big positive is everyone gets a personal mentor who works for a company like Bupa or TalkTalk. Most of the learners haven’t had a career in data, so a mentor can help with things like identifying goals, CV writing and interview tips.”
Cllr Sean Fielding, GMCA Portfolio Lead for Employment, Skills and Digital, said:
Greater Manchester is setting an example, recognising our skills system must respond to the needs of our residents and our businesses at all levels and in all sectors
“Whether it’s a young person first entering the workforce, or a person who finds themselves needing to upskill or reskill for the post-Covid economy, we need to ensure the courses and qualifications on offer are relevant to the city-region’s labour market.
“Putting employers at the heart has always been part of the role of the Employment and Skills Advisory Panel and we will continue to ensure strong relationships between employers, education, further education and higher education providers, as well as Jobcentre Plus.
“The approach also allows us to identify growth areas which are also aligned with our Local Industrial Strategy – for example, higher level skills in digital, or upskilling tradespeople to retrofit green technologies to buildings.”