Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Skills Research and Intelligence

Clare Hughes

Principal Development Officer

Lincolnshire County Council

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Employment and Skills Plan 2010

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Supply of Skills• How we inspire achievement of our young

people so that levels of attainment at 16 are replicated at Level 3

• How we help people realise their potential and reduce pockets of long term unemployment and skills deprivation

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Demand for Skills• How we increase the demand for

skills/higher level skills amongst employers, particularly SMEs

• How we retain talent within the area through creation of higher skilled opportunities

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

The Changing Landscape• Skills Funding Agency/Young People’s Learning Agency

• Minimum contract levels

• Tuition Fees

• University Technical Colleges

• National Career information, Advice and Guidance

• Raising Participation Age

• Further Education Loans

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Sector Reports – Skills Gaps

• Agri-Food

• Manufacturing/Engineering

• Visitor Economy

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Manufacturing/Engineering• Overwhelming shortage of technical

management skills

• Recruitment difficult, particularly for smaller and rural businesses.

• Training regarded as the answer but cost and travel to learn are barriers

• New recruits: lack experience in application of skills

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

• Despite efforts to resolve the sector continues to face recruitment challenges

• Hard to fill vacancies include skilled and low skilled

• Workforce most common skills gaps communication, literacy and numeracy

Agri-Food

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Visitor Economy• Work-readiness of young people entering

front-line, customer service roles.

• Recruiting chefs/skilled kitchen staff

• Business skills of owner-managers

• Seasonal nature of employment on the Coast

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Themes   

Hard to fill vacancies 

Lack of technical and skilled labour e.g. food technology  

Supervisory & management skills of technical staff 

Difficult to ‘grow your own’ 

Perception of sectors/opportunities within them make for a reluctant labour market 

Lack of awareness amongst learners, parents & schools of career paths and technological advancements.

Business skills of owners 

Owner managers lacking skills to run the business, including recruitment and HR knowledge 

Work Readiness Percentage of young people & adults lacking a willingness to learn

Lincolnshire Research Observatory www.research-lincs.org.uk

Next Steps