Peter Cook Director, Employability & Skills Essex County Council Employability & Skills – Responding to industry need including the opportunities presented by the Off – Shore Wind Energy Sector

2 The Challenges for Essex Economic situation, need for growth Key industries in Essex reporting ageing workforce, skills shortages endangering future growth and a lack of young people entering the workforce. 1 in 8 adults in Essex have no qualifications, 1 in 3 without Level 2 90,000 Essex residents claiming out of work benefits, youth unemployment continuing concern with between 2, ,500 NEET year olds at any one time Raising Participation Age

3 Essex’s Response Driven by employment opportunities and major infrastructure projects on the horizon eg London Gateway, East Anglian Array, Southend Airport, nuclear new builds Guided by growing industry intelligence Focused on creating employment & training opportunities for young people STEM related industries, particularly energy and engineering –technician, craft, design skills –Off-shore wind Health & Social Care Vocational Skills

4 The Story so Far……. Focus on Apprenticeships –Over 1600 new and additional Apprenticeships created and sponsored by ECC with partners –Circa £5m new money invested plus £5m from private sector, employer subsidies, innovative approaches, significant number of frameworks used –Focus on economy – aviation, engineering & manufacturing, IT, ports & logistics, creative, sport, marine –Support to small businesses to create jobs in areas of high youth unemployment, particularly coastal districts –Targeted support for NEETs and disadvantaged young people –Public sector opened up, work experience important –Alignment with investment in facilities: Tendring Skills Centre, Harkers Yard Marine Centre, Essex Youthbuild, Harwich Energy Skills Centre, Aircraft Maintenance Training Centre,

5 Future Plans Include….. £3m new investment in further 875 Apprenticeships (600 of which will be engineering & energy related) Schools programme £450k new investment in pilot approach to Health & Social Care shortages leading to 140 new Apprenticeships Joint plans across County boundaries, along the coastline of Suffolk and Norfolk and with Southend and Thurrock Developing plans for helping unemployed back to work through short vocational training programmes leading to Apprenticeships All based on industry intelligence and with industry Further support for care leavers/disadvantaged young people NEET reduction work targeting “work ready” young people”