Agenda item

Report of the Director of Education and Skills

NOTE: A briefing note containing recommendations from the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee is appended at page 307

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Partnership Officer (Director of Education and Skills), which set out the Council’s first citywide Skills Strategy.

The Cabinet noted that the report had also been considered by the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at its meeting held on 28^th September 2022.  A briefing note was appended to the report setting out the Board’s agreement to the adoption of the Strategy and requested that annual performance data on the Strategy be presented to the appropriate Scrutiny Board.  The Cabinet accepted this request.

The Coventry Skills Strategy takes a holistic approach to the skills system from early years through to lifelong learning to achieve the best outcomes for the city’s residents and businesses. It plays a pivotal role in delivering on the ambitions of the ‘One Coventry 2022-2030 Plan’ in helping to increase the economic prosperity of the city, addressing climate change and tackling inequalities within our communities. The approach reflects collaborative principles of the One Council Plan with shared work across Council teams and services, residents, education/skills providers, employers, other public sector bodies and community organisations.  It serves as a ‘framework for action’ with partners learning and developing creative solutions to skills challenges together to meet our three Strategic Ambitions and the eight Priority areas within them:

·  Strategic Ambition 1: A comprehensive, citywide sills offer that raises aspirations and allows each and every resident throughout their lives to reach their full potential.

o  Skills Levels: to improve the overall skills levels of Coventry residents.

o  Aspiration: Further develop a skills system that inspires residents to achieve from primary school through to lifelong learning.

o  Progression Pathways: providing a clear line of sight for people to progress through Coventry’s skills system.

·  Strategic Ambition 2: A skills ecosystem which ensures that all, including those most in need, are able to participate in, progress and achieve success.

o  Community: A skills system which meets the needs of all residents and is widely accessed by all Coventry communities, including newly arrived communities.

o  Inclusion: A skills system which is fully inclusive and representative of our diverse City.

o  Highest Needs: A skills system which supports those most in need, with a ‘proportionate universalism’  approach, helping people out of poverty and creating a more equal City.

·  Strategic Ambition 3: A flexible and responsive system that works together with our growing, investing and local businesses to deliver the right skills mix for our dynamic labour market.

o  Skills for business: A skills system which provides the skills required by Coventry’s businesses, both current and future and contributes to economic growth and the prosperity of the City and Region.

o  Social Value and Sustainability: A skills system which is well positioned to maximise increased commitment to social justice, respect, community, and responsibility including Coventry’s commitment to tackling climate change.

The Skills Strategy is fully integrated with the Council’s new Economic Development Strategy 2022-2025.  Through the two strategies, the council would achieve the following three common goals:

·  Getting the skills and opportunities right for investment: Develop a ‘team around’ approach for investments and large developments with expertise brought together from across the Council to ensure early, comprehensive planning better meets business need and ensures maximum benefit for Coventry.

·  Co-designing skills solutions with businesses: Designing together with industry and skills partners to ensure the skills system is responsive, innovative and produces the right mix for now and the future.  This includes supporting employers to maximise social value commitments.

·  In-work upskilling with local employers: Collaborations which encourage access to skills and workplace development at all levels.

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet:

1.  Accept the comments and recommendations of the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee.

2.  Approve the Coventry Skills Strategy 2022-2027.

3.  Agree to receive an annual monitoring report on the progress towards the Strategy’s aspirations and the progress each ‘Action Group’ has made against the 8 priorities.