Agenda item

To submit a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

Submitted – a report by the Head of Regulatory and Economic Development in relation to the above.

The Economic Development Manager reported that the North Wales Economic Ambitions Board (NWEAB) was established to better co-ordinate strategic economic development activity on a regional basis in response to the pressures on public finances.  The regional co-ordination and delivery of employment and skills programmes is one of the key priority areas for the NWEAB.  The Skills and Employment Workstream of the NWEAB has been adopted and recognised by the Welsh Government as one of its three Regional Skills Partnerships across Wales.

The Chair welcomed Mr. Iwan Thomas, Regional Programme Manager – Skills and Employment from the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) to the meeting.  Mr. Iwan Thomas gave a presentation to the meeting on the North Wales Regional Skills and Employment Plan.  He highlighted that the aim of the NWEAB is to improve and upgrade the region’s skills base and provide employment growth in North Wales.  With the employment opportunities available on the island over the next ten years, employers will need to be further supported to drive a skills provision that respond to their needs.  Those seeking work need the skills to access sustainable employment, whilst those already in work need to be further supported to develop their potential to be able to compete for employment opportunities in different large projects being established on the island i.e. energy & environment sector, advanced manufacturing and materials, construction, creative and digital sectors, health and social care, tourism and hospitality and food & drink manufacturing. 

Mr. Thomas highlighted the regional challenges for skills and employment as :-

·           Addressing lack of succession planning by employers combined with ageing workforce in key sectors;

·           Retaining young people into sustainable employment within the region on completion of their studies;

·           Developing an adaptable regional skills brokerage model based on existing success delivered at North Wales Prison;

·           Increasing the uptake and promotion of STEM related subjects and skills aligned to employer demands;

·           Delivering regional skills solutions for transformative projects alongside promotion of local proximity;

·           Supporting sustainable development and innovation in our growth sectors to provide attractive career pathways.

Members raised the following matters:-

·           There is a need to encourage young people who have left the Anglesey to attend Universities and Colleges to return to potential employment opportunities afforded in North Wales and the Isle of Anglesey;

·           Môn Communities First needs to be included in the list of key partners of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board;

·           Job Fairs at secondary schools needs to be able to give advice to pupils as to the subjects they need to study to be able to compete for employment opportunities afforded in North Wales;

·           Whilst young people need to be aware that STEM subject are important for large developers in North Wales, business subjects need to be highlighted aswell i.e., Human Resources, Administration, Legal, Health & Social Care Sector, Tourism and Hospitality; 

·           Local firms need to be protected when potential large projects will materialise in North Wales.  It is inevitable that firms will lose skilled personnel to large employers.

It was RESOLVED :-

·           To support the recommendations contained within the Regional Skills & Employment Plan and to support the supply of skills needed for future economic growth on Anglesey and North Wales;

·           That an update report be afforded to the Scrutiny Committee in twelve months on the performance of the Regional Skills Plan with regard to the  benefits and impact on the residents of Anglesey;

·           That young people need to be aware of business subjects in comparison to STEM subjects with regard to avenue employment opportunities that are available.

ACTION : As noted above.