Tackle Skills Challenges Now to Future Proof Your Business, says Business West

Over 100 business people visited Ashton Gate Stadium on Thursday 6 July for the first Skills West – Future Skills Exchange.

Skills West, a new programme exclusive to the West of England and provided by Business West, helps businesses to identify and tackle skills gaps, whilst connecting them with local and national training providers to ensure they get the most relevant, quality training.

There was a real buzz in the room as local businesses and training providers debated and discussed how to prepare for the future changing labour market, attract new talent and have a more inclusive workforce.

The keynote speaker designer and entrepreneur Gavin Strange, Aardman Animations and JamFactory, was inspirational. His excitement and energy for creativity was palpable as he shared his experience of breaking into the creative industry. With no degree or strong academic background, Gavin discussed how on paper he may not have been the best candidate but was given an opportunity to share his passion and enthusiasm for learning.

Gavin Strange, Aardman Animations & JamFactory said: “I would encourage business leaders to look past people’s CVs and look at what they can give you. It’s about seeing them as people, seeing their personalities and that doesn’t always correlate to what it says on a piece of paper.”

Delegates also heard from Rioch Edwards-Brown - founder of ‘So you Wanna be in TV?’. She described how the shocking shooting and stabbing of her son at school, all because he had two parents at home, catapulted her to set up her business to provide mentoring and training support to disadvantaged young people. She urged businesses to look beyond traditional means of recruitment and begin to attract talent from harder to reach groups. Her social enterprise has helped over 2500 young people with mentoring support, 68% have been able to subsequently move into their chosen industries and 85% have a better understanding of the world of work.

Nicky Williams, Head of Skills, Business West: “We are delighted to have brought together so many local businesses to discuss the region’s key skills challenges and work together to put some solutions in place. It’s clear from the conversations we’ve had that businesses and education know what needs to happen but the issue is how do we work together to move this forward. That’s exactly what our Skills West programme does, we connect business and training providers to ensure that provision is responsive to business needs. Whether you’re looking to take on an apprentice, up-skill your existing staff or attract new employees with the right skills and knowledge, we can signpost you to organisations and funding which most businesses don’t even know exist!”

James Durie, Executive Director of Bristol Chamber and Initiative at Business West: “We’ve had a really inspiring day with some great conversations and actions to take forward. Time and time again businesses in the West of England tell me that our low unemployment rate often means that they struggle to find employees with the right skills. It’s clear that businesses need to react to these skills challenges now in order to future proof their business."

The Skills West programme is funded by the West of England LEP until 2018 And over that period skills advisers can help businesses to attract, train and retain the right people to ensure business growth.

To find out more about Skills West or speak to a specialist skills adviser visit www.businesswest.co.uk/skills, call 0330 124 4446 or email skillswest@businesswest.co.uk