EM3 Skills Advisory Panel plays active role in addressing local skills challenges

A go-to forum for employers to share their skills and recruitment needs is making a positive impact across the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) region.

The EM3 Skills Advisory Panel (EM3 SAP) brings together senior representatives from employers, training providers, not-for-profit organisations, local authorities, colleges, and universities.

Meeting every two months, the panel shares the latest information they have on skills and labour market needs to help them understand and address key local skills challenges with action.

Jude Robinson, Skills & Employment Strategy Manager at Hampshire County Council, said the panel has had a “real tangible impact.”

She said: “The most valuable thing for me is the panel’s strategic focus, looking at what’s on the horizon, and where we need to be positioning ourselves in the future. This group has got the balance absolutely right between strategic direction and operational delivery.”

“We have a great partnership of key employers and experts in their field who share in detail of what’s going on out there on the ground in the labour market.”

Among the employers the panel has engaged with are the likes of Airbus, BT, Hays Recruitment, Heathrow Airport, Morgan Sindall and UK Space Agency.

Pete Reynolds, Group Director of Marketing, Communications and Student Admissions at Activate Learning, described the work of the panel as “super, super valuable.” He said: “It’s really critical for us at Activate Learning to gather this information to shape what we do, such as planning our cutting-edge curriculum and plan our future direction.”

This has led Activate Learning making some capital investment, working in partnership with key employers such as those in the care sector, as well as high tech businesses involved with the createch sector, data security and artificial intelligence.

“An example of this is where we’ve worked with the Royal Surrey County Hospital to develop our Care Suite,” said Pete. “This has been a real step change in how we’re able to respond to this sector with industry standard equipment and work with employers where students have met nurses and midwives and been able to offer good work experience opportunities.”

The collaborative work of the SAP has ensured the LEP is involved in the delivery of the Government’s Skills for Jobs white paper (published in January 2021). This includes providing project management and financial skills to the Strategic Development Fund, led by Sparsholt College, and our input into the Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) led by Surrey Chambers of Commerce.

Barney Ely, EM3 Director the Chair of the EM3 Skills Advisory Panel, said: “We really value the skills and the contribution employers, including local authorities and other stakeholders, bring to this group.”

“We know the SAP plays a valuable role as a forum bringing employers together, and in particular, to have focused discussions about particular skills challenges or issues, and think about how we can collaborate to address them.”

“Indeed, the work of the panel has almost certainly ensured the LEP is involved in the project led by Sparsholt and LSIP. In particular, looking ahead, there are some exciting discussions about how the SAP can support and complement the LSIP in helping to address local employers’ skills needs.”

For more information about the EM3 Skills Advisory Panel email jamie.mackay@enterprisem3.org.uk