Southampton Skills Development Zone signing
25 November 2008
Southampton's largest public sector employers have signed up to a city-wide scheme which will help the city's workless into jobs and give thousands of existing employees the chance to up their game with new skills.
The Southampton Skills Development Zone - developed by the Skills and Employability Board (SEB) of the Southampton Partnership - is supported by Southampton's Further Education colleges, universities, public and private organisations and the voluntary sector.
The signing of the Skills Development Zone, - which has been supported by the Rt. Hon John Denham MP - took place on Monday 24 November at Southampton Solent University, involving key figures from Southampton's education, health and council organisations.
The city's new and highly innovative approach to workplace training and education will help major employers to identify skills gaps and offer immediate and ongoing training for their workforce. It will also help the region's unemployed to get the right training to get back in to work.
Through the zone, employers will identify particular training needs and tap into colleges, universities and private sector organisations for a range of flexible and part-time courses that can be adapted to workplace demands.
It aims to make Southampton's public and private sector more effective and competitive, while improving people's employability, job satisfaction and quality of life.
The signing event also saw city chiefs signing the Skills Pledge, a government-led initiative to support employees in developing basic skills - such as literacy and numeracy - as well as helping them work towards relevant qualifications.
Southampton City Primary Care Trust (PCT) Chief Executive, Bob Deans, said: "Southampton City PCT fully supports the efforts of the Southampton Partnership and SEB in developing this excellent initiative. We believe that by working together effectively, we can bring about positive outcomes locally in improving the skills base for the health and social sector. Also important to us, as the local NHS organisation responsible for improving the health of the local population, is the opportunity to help address the issue of worklessness in Southampton which is a major contributor to poor health outcomes."
Professor Van Gore, Vice Chancellor of Southampton Solent University, which hosted the launch event, added: "The ethos of the Skills Development Zone aligns with our commitment to social justice and economic competitiveness, and our wish to work collaboratively with other organisations throughout the region.
"the Skills Development Zone has a social justice dimension, as well as a strong business case. We are going to be focussed on immediate activities that will make a difference very quickly."
Councillor Terry Matthews, Cabinet Member for Young People and Skills, said: "We are committed to working with our education and training partners to improve the skills of the city's workforce. The Southampton Skills Development Zone will give local employers the opportunities they need to invest in their staff and in turn improve their business. We are delighted to be supporting this project."
Brad Roynan said in the current economic climate it was more crucial than ever that the city's most stable employers – from the public sector – work together to help ease unemployment and deprivation within the city and skill up their employees. "There is an enormous body of people in thre city who can't get employment and, if you listen to employers, there is a mismatch of available skills. If we can get these together, we can really open doors in Southampton."
Pictured above at the signing
(l-r): Mark Hackett ( Chief Executive, Southampton University Hospitals Trust); Bob Deans, Chief Executive, Southampton City Primary Care Trust (PCT), Lindsay Noble, (Principal, City College); Professor Van Gore (Vice Chancellor, Southampton Solent University); Brad Roynan (Chief Executive, Southampton City Council)
For further information – and/or to talk to Professor Van Gore or Councillor Terry Matthews - contact Southampton Solent University's Press Office on 023 8031 9040 or 023 8031 9079