SECTOR INSIGHTS
Unlocking Somerset Talent: Building Better Routes into Skills and Employment
Yesterday, our very own Rich Jenkins spent the day at the wonderful Waterside Country Barn for the Unlocking Somerset Talent event, hosted by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Passion for Somerset.
And what a day it was! There was a real sense throughout the event that everyone in the room, employers, training providers, young people and partners, genuinely wants the same thing: to give people in Somerset the opportunity to thrive and help local businesses find the people and skills they need.
Rich was invited to join the “Building Talent Together – Bridging the Gap Between Education & Employment” panel, chaired by Dr Julie Young from Somerset Council.
Alongside some brilliant employers who shared their own experiences of apprenticeships, work experience, internships and working with education providers.
Rich was asked a question that really gets to the heart of what DSTPN is all about: “If a Somerset business wants to recruit, develop or retain its workforce but doesn’t know where to start, what support is available and how can DSTPN help?”
And Rich’s answer was, essentially, “Just give us a call. You don’t need to know exactly what you need”
One of the things we hear all the time is that the skills system can feel complicated. There are apprenticeships, Skills Bootcamps, T Levels a variety of amazing training providers, DWP programmes, funding opportunities, work experience, internships and lots of different organisations offering different things.
It can be a bit of a minefield! And that’s why Skill Up Somerset, funded by Somerset Council and delivered by DSTPN, exists. We don’t expect a businesses or people to already know which programme is right for them; That’s our job.
The Skill up Somerset Advisors provide impartial, independent information, advice and guidance, helping businesses and people understand their options and, where appropriate, connecting them with the right training provider, the right person and when applicable funding opportunities.
Skill up Somerset is not here to sell anything. We’re impartial and there to listen, understand what businesses and people are trying to achieve and help them work out where to go next, in a way that’s best for them.
Rich also talked about some of the practical support available, including the Business Skills. SORTED! Directory, the free Workwhile DevelopMentor line management training for SME taking on apprentices, and the various DWP Youth Guarantee and employment initiatives that can help businesses create opportunities for young people.
And then it was over to the roundtable… Rich wasn’t allowed to sit down for long! He also facilitated one of the afternoon’s roundtable discussions, looking at Talent Pipeline & Recruitment. The idea wasn’t to sit around a table and simply talk about the problems. It was about asking:
- What’s the biggest challenge?
- What’s already working?
- What could we do differently or better together?
And perhaps most importantly: What could success look like in 12 months?
The conversations brought together different perspectives from the table and that’s important because there isn’t one magic answer to Somerset’s skills and recruitment challenges and heck there were some great ideas shared!
Finally a huge thank you to everyone who made Unlocking Somerset Talent such a great day and well done, Richfor representing DSTPN and helping keep the conversation focused on what really matters; people, opportunity and working together to make Somerset a great place to live, work and build a future. That’s the bit we’re proud to play our part in.
Could Skill Up Somerset Support You?
Drop us a message to find out! Let’s find the right next steps for you together.