Enterprise & Business
Skills
Developing the skills base to support a world-class economy
Around 30% of jobs in the Greater Cambridge area are in the knowledge-based sectors, and most of those are highly skilled. However, the economic success of the sub-region is driving up demand for better skills at all levels.
The need to improve skills levels in the Greater Cambridge area has been raised at a number of consultation events run by the GCP and in the identification of key issues in preparing the sub-regional economic strategy (SRES).
Higher level skills in particular are critical in ensuring Greater Cambridge maintains its leading position in the global economy and for its businesses to compete internationally. The particular skills issues that have been identified are:
- Raising skill levels for the 23% of residents who have no formal qualifications
- Overcoming the shortage of skilled technical staff and people with degrees and laboratory skills
- Improving vocational skills among school leavers
The GCP has managed projects that have sought to address both nil and low skills and the need for enhanced technical, customer service and management skills.
Enhancing business skills
Despite Cambridge’s abundance of high-tech skills and highly qualified workforce, there is deemed to be a lack of management and
business skills at many levels.
The GCP supported Cambridge Regional College opening a new Business Management Centre in 2006 which offers business management training courses in leadership and management, accounting, human resources, purchasing and supply and marketing.
The Business Centre@Cambridgeshire Regional College
Romsey Mill
Romsey Mill engages with hard-to-reach young people that may have struggled with school, work and education; had a difficult
upbringing; or may be young parents. The redevelopment of Romsey Mill, at a cost of £750,000, provided 50% more space for
community facilities which include meeting, workshop and training rooms, offices, a sports hall, recording studio, creative arts room
and spacious community hall plus crèche. As a result of the GCP grant of £340,000, 388 extra people were trained in the
first year and 100 helped into employment.
Vocational skills
High quality vocational provision is a top priority for Cambridgeshire’s secondary schools and a crucial ingredient in
countywide strategies to reduce the number of young people who are categorised as NEET (Not in Education Employment or Training).
The GCP is investing £250,000 in collaborative vocational centres based in the five areas of greatest socio-economic
need and skills shortage in the county, across 11 schools. The project will provide an increased range of vocational courses
to students aged 14-19 from September 2007. The programme will particularly benefit students in rural areas.
Ramsey and Wisbech Learning Communities
In these two towns opportunities for local people can be limited due to a combination of low educational attainment, poor basic
skills levels, and a culture of low aspirations. Working with the community the project funded by the GCP and delivered by the
Cambridge and Peterborough Learning Trust is creating learning opportunities that unlock talent, raise aspirations and develop the
skills required by local employers. Twelve Learning Champions are already active in the community with seventeen more awaiting
training.
Local people from Wisbech take part in community events
Work4You
Work4You improves training and employment prospects for disabled people, some of whom have no experience of work and may lack
self-confidence and skills. The project helps participants develop the skills they need for the workplace, offers ongoing
support and guidance and valuable work experience through an eight-week work placement.
The Job Club helps people improve workplace skills
Saxongate Community Learning Centre
The Papworth Trust wanted to improve inclusiveness and accessibility to services, learning facilities, housing and public space for
disabled people and open up opportunities for learning for everyone in the community, whatever their ability. The GCP provided
£250,000 to fund a learning facility within Saxongate Community Centre in Huntingdon and 195 people will be assisted in skills
development in 2007/08.
1 in 5 people of working age have a disability. The barriers faced by the disabled can be caused by either physical barriers, the attitude of the able-bodied or reduced opportunites which can lead to social exclusion and disadvantage in employment, education, health and housing
The Learning Centre is fully accessible, provides affordable training rooms, an IT suite, art room and teaching kitchen which is open to everyone for training and learning
The Saxongate Centre is open to people with and without disabilities
To learn more about these and other similar projects visit the Investing in Communities section
Construction industry training skills (CRC)
The 47,500 new houses and range of other infrastructure projects due to be developed in the Cambridge sub-region in the next 15 years will
require a considerable increase in trained construction industry workers. This GCP-inspired project helped fit out a new workshop at
Cambridge Regional College to provide CAD training for joiners and carpenters to NVQ level 2. Around 60 people a year are now being
trained in these skills, which are required to support modern construction techniques on new housing sites.
Construction training for building developments of the future
Management development initiative website
In order to help local companies grow and fulfil their potential, an online resource
for business managers in Greater Cambridge has been created. Developed in conjunction with the Learning and Skills Council, the
Cambridgeshire management forum website provides support and practical guidance for managers locally. Visit www.camf.org.uk, a
comprehensive resource centre to aid personal and professional development. It is a gateway to resources, courses and to the best and
most appropriate learning available in the region.
Encouraging world-class skills
A group of learning and skills organisations recognised the lack of sufficient training in engineering technology in the Huntingdon
area.
This group, collaborating with local employers and Huntingdonshire Regional College Employers Advisory Committee, approached potential funders for assistance. They identified needs including equipment, training and courses to incorporate in Huntingdonshire Regional College’s engineering curriculum.
Students use the new lathe sponsored by EEDA through the GCP
With the help of a £50,000 grant secured by the GCP, the engineering area has been updated, new machines installed, the new course implemented and to date 66 people have been trained or acquired new skills.
