County council drive to boost aspiration and skilled employment gathers pace

A drive by the county council to increase people's career aspirations and develop their skills to meet workforce needs has gathered pace with significant achievements in recent months.

It has set out key priorities to ensure that people of all ages can take advantage of growing employment opportunities in Staffordshire across a range of sectors. Working with partners there is now a broad range of training and development available countywide.

Last year the county council created the Staffordshire Jobs and Careers service working with partner organisations such as the DWP, Job Centre Plus and skill providers. The service gives both job seekers and those looking to develop their workplace skills, and businesses looking to recruit, a single point of contact. It matches people with suitable and relevant employment opportunities, which is invaluable to businesses so that they get the right candidates to meet their needs. The service has already generated positive results.

With Staffordshire's higher than national average start-up business survival success rate, the county council aims to educate young people in how small enterprises operate through its Ignite programme. Running initially in the county's colleges, it has now expanded with a pilot scheme for year nine secondary school students. Last year 5,500 college students and 270 year nine students received an Ignite lesson.

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and Careers Hub, which is now coordinated by the county council, has 108 schools and colleges as members and supports young people in making the right choices when considering future employment. It is supported by 50 businesses and has enabled over 1,000 young people secure work experience positions. Meanwhile the careers and participation service continues to support young people not currently in employment, education or training.

It is an ongoing priority to the county council to ensure there are lifelong learning opportunities for all residents and its Community Learning programme goes from strength to strength. There is a broad range of courses available to people, both online and in person. Completing them helps to increase personal and workplace development. Included is the Multiply adult numeracy programme. Just last year this resulted in 1,512 enrolments and delivered over 200 courses.

Staffordshire County Council's deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said:

Our employment and skills programme is a comprehensive one and has delivered significant achievements in recent months. The services provided and broad range of targeted initiatives are making a real difference to people every day.

Whatever someone's age, having the appropriate skills and development opportunities which are relevant to today's workforce needs really helps their confidence and employment chances.

We are working closely with our partners to ensure we get the programme right, making any necessary adjustments, as we know this will lead to happier communities and a healthy local economy."

Achievements from the county council's employment and skills strategy were discussed at November's meeting of the Economy, Infrastructure and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

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