South West RDA: People and skills - Level Three and Higher Level Skills

Combined Universities in Cornwall Ensuring that the skills needs of the regional economy are addressed at Level 3 and above, and in key sectors in particular, has been identified as a priority for the region by the South West Regional Skills Partnership (SW RSP).

Technical (Level 3) and higher level skills development is critical to the region's economic growth, not least because of the significant positive impact it has on productivity. The Leitch Review of Skills flagged clearly the challenges and the issues for the UK economy; recommending the more than doubling of current rates of progression by adults to level 3, and calling for any increase in the proportion of the working population with higher level skills from 29% in 2005 to more than 40% in 2020. "Growth of this order is unlikely to be achievable by trying to expand further the current model of HE....Further improvements in the UK's high skills base must come from workforce development and increased employer engagement."

The importance of technical (Level 3) training is reflected in the Train to Gain Plan for Growth (2007-2011), which is expanding Level 3 provision. Lord Sainsbury has also highlighted the importance of technical skills to support innovation as a driver of competitiveness. See the White Paper Innovation Nation for further details.

The South West RDA is working actively to support this priority:

Working with the HE Regional Forum to incorporate the SW RSP priorities into the overall Regional HE Strategy
Support for the Graduates4Business project, to improve retention of graduates in the South West and to encourage employment of graduates in the region's businesses.
Support for business research studentships at three research-intensive universities (Bristol, Bath, Exeter) through the Great Western Research project.
Encouraging the development of vocational HE through the work of the Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project.