Past Events
The Regional Skills Partnership hosted a Regional Employability Conference at the Gosforth Marriott, to look at how agencies can work together to offer a more joined up package of support for people seeking work and employers seeking staff.
Discussion focussed on the Regional Employability Framework (REF) that will provide a single accessible network of support that meets the skills needs of both individuals and businesses.
It will create an employment ladder that makes it easy for people to access help and provides a clear path from initial engagement with voluntary groups and other local agencies through to better support for them once they have started work to increase retention rates and ensure people go on to get better quality and higher paid jobs.
The creation of a common assessment and tracking system between all agencies together with a clearer structure will ensure that clients do not slip out of the system.
Employers will benefit from the Framework, as they will be offered access to a wider pool of job-ready candidates and be more involved with the design of programmes to help meet their specific skills and recruitment needs.
The Framework will improve the joint planning between of all the key stakeholders, Jobcentre Plus, the Learning & Skills Council, One NorthEast, Employer Coalition, local authorities, voluntary and community organisations and importantly – employers. This will create a more efficient system, allowing individual agencies to focus on their strengths to meet the key objective of getting people back into work.
The conference is an opportunity for employers and stakeholders to hear more about the Framework and will include an interview with Employment and Welfare Reform Minister Jim Murphy.
Pat Ritchie, Director of Strategy and Development at One NorthEast said:
“Real progress has been made in the North East in recent years and if we are to meet the ambitious targets in ‘Leading the Way’ (the Regional Economic Strategy) we need to keep on increasing our employment levels and the skills of the workforce”.
“The Regional Economic Framework aims to provide a clear and easily accessible route for individuals into work and will help us make the best use of the resources available to us for the benefits of the region”.
Diane Hedley, Jobcentre Plus Regional Director said: “The regional partners share a common objective of working together to help more people into work. The Regional Employability Framework will support this goal by optimising the use of all our resources. It will provide better support to people wanting to enter the labour market. This will build on the already strong partnership seeking to improve the region."
Chris Roberts, LSC Regional Director said: “Progress has already been made thanks to the efforts of the colleges and other providers of learning which are funded by the LSC to deliver training and other support services. We will continue working with key agencies at both regional and local level to identify new ways of ‘joining up’ our activities - creating effective routeways for individuals to access work and ensure that they and their employers have access to information and advice. Where appropriate, financial assistance to support progression towards higher skills levels may also be available.”
“We are committed to accelerating our efforts to ensure that we maximise the LSC’s contribution to implementing the ambitious proposals set out in the Regional Economic Strategy.”
Minister for State at the Department for Work and Pensions Jim Murphy said: “We have seen real progress in the North East economy, with 34,000 more people in work compared with this time last year. But we can and will do more. It is essential that we equip people with the right skills and training so we can match their talents with the jobs which are out there.”
Regional Employability Framework Conference Report [doc]
(259 KB)
