The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) for the North East identifies improving productivity and levels of economic activity as key objectives for the region.
A key strategic driver for achieving these objectives is the Regional Employability Framework (REF), which was launched in 2006.
The REF provides an over-arching strategic focus for partnership working on employability across the region, pulling together all key partners and stakeholders, such as national government agencies and regional and local bodies, to produce a single network of employment and skills support to meet the needs of employers and individuals.
This means individual agencies can focus on their own strengths while meeting the collective objective of getting people back into sustainable employment.
The REF has created an employment ladder that makes it easier for people to access help and it provides a clear pathway, from initial engagement with voluntary groups and other local agencies through to better support for them once they have started work. This, in turn, ensures that people go on to get better quality and higher-paid jobs.
The REF has also created an assessment and tracking system to ensure that individuals, once engaged, do not slip out of the system. The region’s employers benefit as they are offered access to a wide pool of job-ready candidates and are more involved with the design of training programmes to help meet their specific skills and recruitment needs.
REF Plan 2009 [pdf]
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