A detailed regional analysis has clearly shown the requirement to meet the skills needs of the key sectors within the South West economy. In the engineering sector, employers report 40% of all vacancies are hard to fill. In the Creative Industries it is 61%. For some sectors in the South West, up to 35% of the workforce is aged over 50. 
 
A sector focus is an important part of the demand-led approach needed for skills development if the needs of businesses are to be met. This was reinforced in the Leitch Review of Skills and sector skills development activity underpins the core work of the South West Regional Skills Partnership. 
 
The South West RDA is already a major driver of sector skills activity in the region:

• The Agency has a strong working relationship with the Learning and Skills Council enabling positive action, for example the development of National Skills Academies within the region.
• The Agency supported a high level national Regions and Sectors Conference on 30 April 2008.
• The Agency works closely with the SW RSP's Sector Operations Group which enables the region to interpret and support the Sector Skills Agreements produced by Sector Skills Councils. The Sector Operations Group is recognised by regional and national partners as exemplar.

The South West RDA is committed to increasing the competitiveness of priority sectors This has included investing in sector specific skills projects and programmes through a range of initiatives. 
 
For example:

• Over £5 million has been committed to the aerospace industry which faces the need for lower cost and more technically demanding products and services. The West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) has been instrumental in developing, in partnership with the South West RDA, a detailed strategy to support and enhance the sector.

• In the marine sector, the South West RDA is working with Marine South West to establish, and ensure the long-term sustainability of, three training schools to meet identified skills shortages which are preventing businesses from fulfilling their potential.

• In the food and drink sector, the South West RDA supports the South West Food & Drink Skills Network which was set up as a result of intensive research into the need for basic skills within the food & drink industry. The Network and the South West RDA are engaged with Improve Ltd, the Sector Skills Council for food and drink manufacturing.

• The South West RDA has invested over £2 million in the Advanced Engineering Skills Project (AESP) delivered by a range of partners through EEF Western.

• Some of the highest growth areas of the economy are in the non-manufacturing areas. In the creative industries sector, the South West RDA supports:

1. The Media Skills Development Programme (MSDP), led by South West Screen, which aims to deliver demand led innovative training programmes. To date the project has been highly successful and our funding has leveraged a total project value of almost £2m.
2. The Skills Development Programme which is aimed specifically at creative companies working in non-media areas. Working with Arts Matrix, the project will encourage and support creative businesses to take part in high-quality, economically relevant training to enhance their commercial and management skills.

• In the tourism sector, the South West RDA supports the Tourism Skills Network which works with employers to identify skills needs and provide development activities for businesses. It also actively promotes careers in the industry through jobs fairs, schools, colleges and universities. One activity of the Network is the Tourism and Hospitality Executive Programme. The programme is tailored to meet the needs of leaders, key decision makers and managers working in the tourism, leisure and hospitality industry in the South West. This Case Study (Microsoft Word Document - 47.10kb) gives details about how the programme is working in Torbay. The Tourism Skills Network and the South West RDA work together with People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industries.

For further information, please contact: 
Adrian Bailey - Tel: 01823 414402 
Email: adrian.bailey@swrsp.org.uk 
or 
Kirsty Lovell 
Email: kirsty.lovell@southwestrda.org.uk