Celia Brigg,

1
The Importance of Higher Level Skills to
Organisations
Celia Brigg, Assistant Director (skills), NWUA
2
Outline

• Background
• Why invest in higher level skills?
• Examples of current activity
• Key messages for the future

3
Background

• Today over 70 of the workforce for 2020 has
  already completed their compulsory education
• Demographics show reduction in the number of
  young people
• Therefore increased focus on upskilling the
  current workforce

4
Background
Number of people qualified to level 4 and above
Number of people active in the workforce
qualified to level 4
5
Background

• Regional Economic Strategy 2006-09
• Gap of 80,000 people qualified to level 4
• Skills and education Level 4 and 5 skills are
  required for growth in the knowledge economy.
  However, the region has fewer people with level 4
  skills than the England average. Although the
  training of new graduates and their retention is
  high, the proportion of the existing workforce
  with the higher level skills required for the
  knowledge economy is inadequate.

6
Current Policy

• DIUS target for 36of adults to be qualified to
  level 4 by 2014
• The Government does not want more of the same
  (i.e. standard three-year Honours degrees), but a
  shift towards a much more flexible system with
  greater emphasis on level 4 qualifications
  achieved in the workplace

7
Why Invest in HLS?

• There are benefits to the organisation, including
• Businesses can become involved in the development
  of training solutions to suit the needs of the
  business and help them to reach their objectives
• Work-based projects can develop skill sets of
  staff throughout the business and improve the
  skills base within the organisation
• More effective implementation of strategic plans
• Increase flexibility of workforce at all levels
  (eg not just management training)

8
Why Invest in HLS?

• Organisational Benefits (cont)
• Promote the business as having a learning culture
  and therefore be a more attractive place to work
• Application of real business processes/procedures
  and experiences in learning
• Attract more new staff through the offer of work
  related training and development opportunities
• Increase efficiency and productivity of staff
• Increase confidence and motivation in staff
• Reduce staff turnover rates
• Improve performance results
• Objective analysis of business needs/situation

9
Why Invest in HLS?

• There are benefits to the individual, including
• Improve understanding and involvement in
  strategic activities
• Career and educational progression
• Better understanding of own role in the business
  and those of colleagues
• Improve understanding of key functional and
  management areas
• Gain the knowledge to work independently on more
  complex projects
• Training in soft skills or specific technical
  ability to build on previous knowledge

10
Why Invest in HLS?

• There are benefits to the individual, including
• Feeling more valued by employer
• Improve employability and progression into other
  areas of work
• Training and development can be delivered
  flexibly to fit working schedules and personal
  commitments
• Increased confidence in own ability and higher
  self esteem
• Increased motivation
• Increased buy-in to company vision and values

11
Current Activity

• NW Higher Level Skills Pathfinder
• 21 projects funded to date across 4 sectors and
  12 HEIs and FECs
• Integrating higher level skills with the Train to
  Gain brokerage
• Developed training for Skills Brokers on Higher
  Education
• Developing a database of HE provision

12
Current Activity

• Foundation Degree Forward
• Foundation Degrees
• Employer Engagement
• Aimhigher
• Entry in HE / Widening Participation
• Information, Advice and Guidance
• Lifelong Learning Networks
• Vocational progression
• Individual institution activity
• Employer engagement
• Widening Participation

13
Key Messages

• Higher Level Skills leads to increase
  productivity and competitiveness
• HE providers focusing on this agenda and keen to
  become involved with learners currently in the
  workforce
• HLSP Team can assist in brokering links
• Unionlearn, FDF and NWUA working closely together
  to develop and strnegthen current links

14
Further Information
Dr Celia Brigg, Assistant Director
(Skills) cbrigg_at_nwua.ac.uk 0161 2348891 Fiona
McGregor, Specialist Advisor (Construction) fmcgre
gor_at_nwua.ac.uk 07769 883447 Peter Davies,
Specialist Advisor (Digital Creative
Industries) pdavies_at_nwua.ac.uk 07769 882
487 Eddie Keating, Specialist Advisor (Business
and Professional Services) ekeating_at_nwua.ac.uk
07769 883 460 Claire Lowe, Specialist Advisor
(Advanced Engineering and Materials) clowe_at_nwua.ac
.uk 0161 2348880 Karen Lang, Specialist
Advisor (Advanced Engineering and
Materials) klang_at_nwua.ac.uk 0161
2340438 Olesya Shipova, Senior
Officer oshipova_at_nwua.ac.uk 0161
2348880 Virginia Mitchell, Administration
Assistant vmitchell_at_nwua.ac.uk 0161 2340431