Aligning Skills Provision with Future Industry Sector Needs

To compete effectively in today’s global economy confidence in a highly skilled, adaptable and dependable workforce is essential. Supply of local skills is one of the key considerations for any business deciding where to locate its operations and is of huge importance to how our region performs.

The CCR has a strong ecosystem of skills, knowledge, and research and industry collaboration. Home to Cardiff University, University of South Wales, Cardiff Metropolitan University and The Open University in Wales, together they account for around 75,000 students. This is alongside five Further Education Colleges – : Cardiff and Vale College, Coleg Gwent, Bridgend College, Coleg Y Cymoedd and the College Merthyr Tydfil supporting the learning and upskilling of an additional 60,000 learners.

There is a strong culture of collaboration between HE, FE and Industry in the region. The Universities and their industrial partners make a strong contribution to the economic and social resilience of the region and are key to future growth strategies. With a strong track record of developing collaborative solutions, including the notable recent success with the Strength in Places award to the CSconnected, we are keen to explore all opportunities for similar initiatives and to encourage further strategic collaboration and HE/FE connections with industry for activity that is aligned with the regions current and future sector needs. In so doing we will create lasting clusters and networks within the region.

Development of “skills academies” to support our priority sectors and ensure we have both the quantum and quality of skills required to enable the achievement of the respective sector’s growth objectives.
Initial funding focus to be on the development of capability to enable the provision of 10,000 data scientists and cyber specialists over the next 5 years. This will complement our regional data assets by cementing our position as a centre of excellence for data science and cyber skills talent development.
Consider proposals for setting up a National Software Institute.
The intention is to promote progression into new areas of learning in new and emerging technologies and access to specialist kit/resources and expertise on a regional basis. This will ensure that learners in all settings can engage with the reality of what jobs in the new and emerging sectors look like at all levels.

Requirements

£100m – For the establishment of skills academies for our priority sectors.

Initial funding focus to be on the development of capability to enable the provision of 10,000 data scientists and cyber specialists over the next 5 years. This will cement our position as a UK centre of excellence for data science and cybersecurity skills and talent development.