Changing learning spaces in tough times: knowledge, skills and the boundaries of work ESRC Seminar Series Lifelong Learning & Workspaces University of Nottingham 11 February 2010

Origins of regional policy Fears of market interference, labour dependency and excessive public spending Strategic international policies Industrial transference – training to facilitate labour mobility Limited industrial relocation

Endogenous growth and regional strategy Constrained devolution in England to RDAs with narrow powers, responsibilities and resources Expansive devolution to NI, Scotland and Wales Innovation-led growth Some relocation of public sector employment Limited use of location incentives (contrast with Ireland) Strong focus on skills supply

“Scarring” Serious long term wage penalty Affects unemployed school-leavers and unemployed adults Some evidence of non-economic penalties Limited impact of ALM schemes, training initiatives weak or negative impact

Early 1990s Clear downward pressures on training budgets at enterprise level Overall training levels fell in line with rising unemployment “Minimum training floor” arising from law, regulation and professional requirements Felstead & Green 1994

Apprenticeships LSC reports overall “recruitment of apprentices more difficult” Sharp decline in places for the age group Growth in demand for places for 25+ group

Emerging evidence in 2010 CIPD report small decline in organisations with dedicated training budget (down 7% in 2008 to 2009) One third of enterprises report reduced training spend Over half of enterprises report new management programmes Growing emphasis on coaching, mentoring and on-job learning Small rise in average duration of training (up from five in 2008 to six days per worker) Over two-fifths report increased use of e-learning

Job related training in last four weeks – all of working age

UK domiciled applicants to higher education, Residence England368,801358,085380,077401,882 Wales20,66621,40321,42622,714 Scotland36,82135,42935,49638,035 NI18,34217,27917,14917,116 Total UK444,630432,196454,148502,461

UK domiciled applicants to higher education (HESA)

HE applicants AreaRise, East Midlands22.9% Eastern England21.3% London17.6% North East14.8% North West18.5% Northern Ireland- 1.0% Scotland7.4% South East18.4% South West16.3% Wales6.1% West Midlands20.2% God’s own county17.9% Total UK16.3%

Innovation-led growth Promised protection for the science budget Real terms cuts of up to 20% in research grants over three years Significant cuts in the teaching grant

Overall Possibly a small decline in job-related training Areas of growth include management development and e-learning Increasing use of coaching, mentoring and on-job learning Declining youth apprenticeships, offset by rise in adult apprenticeships Significant growth in higher education applicants (especially adults) Some regional evidence of ‘saturated HE demand’ Little or no role for regional planning as part of innovation strategy