Gordon Parkes HR Director, Northern Ireland Electricity Member of CBI Employment Affairs Committee ‘ACCESSING AND DEVELOPING TALENT FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT’ CONNECTING FOR THE BENEFIT OF STUDENTS AND EMPLOYERS 29 March 2012

2 Connecting for the benefit of students and employers Is your organisation connected with all the links in the chain? Do we collectively currently provide informed life choices and a career path which suits the individual and meets employer needs? Level of connection - None or limited - Intermediate (some) - Advanced - Exemplary How well connected are all the relevant Education Providers, Training Providers, Government departments and Employers?

3 Connecting for the benefit of students & employers So much has been written about this subject So many good initiatives taking place So much effort Why have we not solved the basic issue - “There is still a mismatch between the demand for skills and the supply of skills”

4 - The Evidence

5 …and higher skills are required to underpin growth. Level 1 and belowLevel 2Level 3 Level 2Level 3 Level 4 and above 0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100% Source: Oxford Economics Persons in Employment: Highest Qualifications (NQF) NI 2010 NI 2020-If Productivity Gap with UK to be addressed Skills Needs - The Evidence

6 The current position Lots of good initiatives but - Lack of “joined-up” thinking - Fragmented and disconnected - Confusing and lacking clarity The Result Employers Skills Gaps Students Not maximising opportunities or potential

7 1 x 1 = 1 2 x 2 = 4 3x 3 = 9 4 x 4 = 15 What do you notice about this slide?

8 There will be Job Opportunities across the economy – not just in growth areas Managerial Professional Associate Prof Administrative Skilled Trades Personal Serv Sales Operatives Elementary ('000) Expansion DemandReplacement Demand Occupational Demand over decade to 2020 Source: Oxford Economics Skills Needs

9 Sectors offering potential  Agri-food  Manufacturing  Health technologies  ICT sector and creative industries  Specialised business services  Retail  Tourism  Energy Integrating labour market information with the career pathway for pupils/students (Source CBI)

10 The Future for the Energy Sector Research carried out by the National Skills Academy for Power -28,200 leavers within sector -if current recruitment is maintained – 38% shortage of people with the right skills In NI - -Market opening – new employers in this sector NIE -we will need c.700 new employees over the next 5/10 years How does this information get to pupils in schools and students to inform their career decisions?

11 The NIE experience We have just gone through 10 years of cost cutting and efficiency improvement Our employer brand weakened We maintained our own apprentice training facility and apprentice recruitment Did not do enough to engage with education providers Graduate intake difficulties

12 Apprentice and graduate intake during a difficult period YearNumber This Year 40 YearNumberNumberShortfall RequiredRecruited This year Apprentices Graduates Minimum Entry Requirements 4 C including Maths & English Minimum Entry Requirements BSc 2.2(hons) in Electrical Engineering or related discipline

13 Student options Unemployment Apprenticeship Unemployment H.E. F.E. Employment Schools Pupils/ Students 5 career paths 3 outcomes The focus has to be based on the student Careers advice needs to explore more options Parents Employment Self-employment

14 Potential employees need employability skills and not just a qualification -CBI’s recent research findings (Education and Skills Survey 2010) -10% of employers have concerns about basic skills in graduates -24% of employers dissatisfied with graduates’ problem solving skills -26% of employers dissatisfied with graduates’ self- management skills -22% of employers have concerns about the limited career awareness, while 40% feel graduates should have more relevant work experience % of employers believe gaining practical experience is the most valuable step young people can take to improve their prospects

15 Universities want to produce students with the following attributes: Critical thinking Adaptability Intellectual flexibility Enquiring Capacity to challenge Ability to work in teams Enterprise & entrepreneurship Business Awareness Leadership An international dimension Employers want the following attributes in their employees: Critical thinking Adaptability ? Team working ? Business & Customer Awareness Leadership ? ? Problem solving & decision making ? Communication Literacy & Numeracy ? IT skills ? Positive attitude Potential employees need employability skills and not just a qualification

16 Employers want the following employability skills and not just a qualification Critical thinking Adaptability Intellectual flexibility Enquiring Capacity to challenge Team working Enterprise & entrepreneurship Business & Customer Awareness Leadership An international dimension Problem solving & decision making Literacy & numeracy IT skills What employers want Positive attitude Communication skills Confidence

Knowledge Skill Desire Determination Drive 19

18 The Challenges Changing the Mindset -Employers- invest time & effort in connecting -Schools- focus on the right outcomes based on the needs of students and employers -F.E. & H.E.- more flexible approaches to learning in partnership with employers and schools -pupils/students- employability skills & attitude & expectations -parents- open minded/explore a broader range of options -Government- a joined up approach between departments - single point of contact for employers

19 How can we connect better? Make time to engage with education providers Appoint an academic engagement officer (portfolio/development role for an existing employee) Provide quality work experience for pupils Provide quality work placements for students Provide teachers, lecturers and careers advisors with knowledge/awareness opportunities (placements etc) Promote the attractiveness of their sector by attending open days, careers fairs etc and facilitating visits to their premises Use experienced employees nearing retirement to develop the next generation Employers need to:

20 How can we connect better? (cont’d) Consider providing scholarships in partnership with universities Use role model employees as ambassadors in outreach programmes with education providers Larger employers should consider outreach support to SMEs and micro businesses Employers need to: