South Yorkshire Skills Celebration event showcases value of investing in skills
Two hundred local businesses, colleges and training providers attended a special South Yorkshire Skills Celebration Event, held at Magna Science Adventure Centre on March 23rd.
The event was the first of its kind to focus on Connecting Skills, Business and People and was hosted by Carrie Sudbury – Chief Executive Designate at Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber. Keynote speakers included David Akeroyd, Deputy Principal – Development and Productivity at Barnsley College, Dan Fell – CEO of Doncaster Chamber, Louisa Harrison-Walker, CEO of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Tom Bousfield – Corporate Director for Growth, Business and Skills at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
David Akeroyd discussed how the skills sector in South Yorkshire is coming together to address the many challenges facing businesses. This includes creating a central business engagement website designed to improve the capacity and capability of skills providers in collaborating to meet the region’s skills needs. The website will provide a focal point for development and delivery of a curriculum that is tailored to businesses making greater use of digital and other technologies and working towards the region’s zero carbon commitments.
David said: “Colleges and training providers recognise the need to collaborate even more closely to meet the needs of South Yorkshire businesses. This includes introducing new ways of working that use technology, such as virtual reality learning environments, and upgrading facilities to ensure we can meet the needs of tomorrow’s employers today.”
David also gave details of the new South Yorkshire Skills website www.southyorkshireskills.org which is currently being developed as a single point of entry to the skills system for any businesses or learners in South Yorkshire.
The event also showcased the benefits of skills programmes being delivered within South Yorkshire. It featured two apprentices: Ellie Eadon, who studies at The Sheffield College and works at the Link Community Hub in Stradbroke, Sheffield and Nicholas Brewer, who studies at Barnsley College and works in residential childcare for Wakefield City Council. Ellie and Nicholas talked about how their apprenticeships had helped shape their learning and career opportunities.
Ellie Eadon said: “I am two years into my apprenticeship and have gained so many relevant skills, including retail support, managing people and improving self-esteem. I took on a team leadership course and now lead a team of volunteers. Because of my apprenticeship, I have been able to help so many people in the community. I hope to become a manager in the future and be able to make even more of a difference to people’s lives.”
Following the inspiring session with learners, there was a panel discussion involving Karen Mosley – Managing Director of HLM Architects and Co-chair of the South Yorkshire Regional Skills Advisory Board, Yiannis Koursis, Principal and CEO of Barnsley College, Dan Lally – Director of Business Engagement, Skills & Employability at Sheffield Hallam University, Angela Foulkes –Principal and CEO of The Sheffield College and Co-chair of the South Yorkshire Regional Skills Advisory Board and Jayne Vose – Chair of South Yorkshire Provider Network. The discussion focused on how employers and skills providers could work even better together.
After the presentations, businesses were encouraged to network and collaborate with the 30+ skills and training providers who exhibited in the ‘Skills Expo’ in the Big Hall at Magna.
The South Yorkshire Skills Celebration Event was the result of a collaboration between South Yorkshire learning providers and the local Chambers of Commerce, including Barnsley College, DN College Group (Doncaster), RNN Group (Rotherham), the AMRC Training Centre, Northern College, Sheffield College, Sheffield Hallam University and South Yorkshire Providers Network.
The event was part of creating closer collaboration between businesses and learning providers, following a £2.5m Strategic Development Fund (SDF) grant from the Department for Education which will allow local areas to improve skills engagement, capacity and delivery. This involves removing barriers to skills and training for businesses and local people.
South Yorkshire Skills is set to improve both capacity and capability across South Yorkshire, offering advanced skills training in green skills, modern construction methods, advanced manufacturing and sustainable technologies that support the region’s move to a zero-carbon economy.
For more information visit the website www.southyorkshireskills.org.
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