Business leaders, training providers and Torfaen Council representatives have met to discuss ways of upskilling the local workforce to meet the needs of a competitive innovative economy.
The event was organised by the Torfaen Strategic Economic Forum, which represents large businesses in the borough, following a survey of companies last year which identified a lack of skills and training as a barrier to growth.
Forum members met with training providers and senior council leaders to identify the challenges and potential solutions.
Anita Calverley, HR Director at manufacturing firm HWM Global, in Cwmbran, said:
“We are a growing business employing almost 300 people, the majority of which are based in Cwmbran.
“We are already tapping into the valuable support available through Welsh Government-funded courses and resources – specifically for delivering management training to our team leaders, supervisors and managers and in the development of a new apprenticeship programme from next September.
“We welcome being part of this dialogue with the strategic economic forum and other local businesses.”
Ryan Tirrell, from RT Business Systems Solutions, said:
“The opportunity is ours collectively to define Torfaen as an inspiring place to grow and develop a professional career.”
Mike Prew, Sales Engineer at GOS Tool & Engineering Services, in Blaenavon, added:
“It was a very positive event with many new local companies in attendance hopefully we can start to get things moving for the best for the area in more ways than one working together”
Cllr Jo Gauden, who also attended the event, said:
“Our Economy and Skills Strategy sets out a vision for a competitive innovative economy in Torfaen, which means working with industry experts to identify barriers and solutions to encourage inward investment and growth.
“It was agreed that working with schools to nurture young people’s career aspirations, supporting unemployed people to feel positive about returning to the workplace and developing specialist skill sectors should be key focuses.”
Feedback from the event will be used to develop an action plan.
The Torfaen Strategic Economic Forum was set up in 2018 to drive economic development in Torfaen.
Since 2000, the proportion of residents with no qualifications in Torfaen has halved, the proportion with NQF Level 2+ qualifications has increased by more than 10 percent and the proportion with Level 3+ qualifications has moved closer to the Wales average. However, in recent years, the gap between Torfaen and the Wales average has increased slightly.
The Torfaen Strategic Economic Forum skills and training workshop was funded thanks to £3,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
