SERG has developed a draft North East Regional Skills and Employment Response Plan. This plan outlines the regional response arrangements, and the public sector offer in respect of employment and skills, to both businesses and individuals affected by the recession. This document is work in progress and will continue to be updated.
Details of activity in relation to employment and skills within the funding organisations of Jobcentre Plus, Skills Funding Agency and One North East are being collated and represented in a template format. This same task is underway to reflect similar activity at sub regional and local level. These templates will provide the framework for some further detailed work to begin to identify and address any gaps or weak areas in provision.
SERG also prepares briefings to the Public Sector Economy Forum, the regional Minister, and key stakeholders, keeping all parties updated on progress and providing a valuable link to developments.
Two sub-groups are progressing SERG’s work on Communications and Redundancy.
Communications
The SERG Communications Group is made up of representatives from the partner organisations. The group has been tasked with co-ordinating the communication efforts of the SERG group, to ensure that individuals and business are aware of the help available across the region.
In early February 2009 a campaign entitled “Real help for business and people now” was launched across the region. The aim of the campaign is to ensure that businesses and individuals are aware that help is out there – whether it be tailored business advice on topics such as financial assistance, business health checks or redundancy, or advice for individuals to help them access training and employment opportunities within the North East.
A significant achievement in launching the campaign has been to agree three ‘calls to action’ which are being used on all promotional materials (the three numbers are listed on the Real Help Campaign website, www.realhelpnortheast.co.uk, and on the SERG home page on this site).
Promotional activity has included:
• Daily editorial coverage in the regional press
• High profile PR and advertising campaign across the region’s business titles
• Outdoor advertising campaign promoting the 3 calls to action
• Distribution of marketing materials via partner channels
• Radio infomercials on regional stations
• www.realhelpnortheast.co.uk launched in March 2009