As part of our ongoing recruitment drive for our main LEP and Skills and Employability boards, we are showcasing our impact and collaboration across York and North Yorkshire. This week, looked at our investment in the Scarborough area and spoke to Carolyn Frank, North Yorkshire Development Manager with the Federation of Small Businesses.
York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Enterprise Partnership (YNYER LEP) is recruiting to its Skills and Employability Board. The board aims to bring together local employers and skills providers to pool knowledge on skills and labour needs and tackle local challenges. Its responsibilities include the allocation of a £40m skills and business funding pot for projects across the LEP’s patch.
Among the current Skills and Employability Board members is Carolyn Frank, North Yorkshire Development Manager with the Federation of Small Businesses.
She said: “I would encourage small business owners and the self-employed to apply for the vacancies to join the board, to increase the number of business voices around the table. This a real chance to influence where funding goes and what skills support is offered to the region.
“Businesses need to be at the table to speak up for their needs for their current and future workforce, to create a demand-led skills programme that is fit for purpose, and especially the smallest businesses, where we know recruitment and retention of staff is often a difficult issue – they need to be involved in the debate.”
Investment in the Scarborough area overseen by the Skills and Employability Board includes:
- A construction and engineering centre at Scarborough TEC was part-funded by £3.345m of Skills Capital from the Government’s Local Growth Fund. The building has state-of-the art workshops allowing students to hone their skills with the latest technology.
- Drawing from a £40m European funding pot, the LEP develops solutions to skills issues across the patch. This has included the £6.9m ‘Advantage Coast’ programme for Scarborough and Bridlington, which is delivered by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Scarborough Borough Council. The programme aims to improve skills and economic growth by allocating funds to local groups, organisations and businesses.
- A total of £320,000 of Local Growth Fund Skills Capital has been invested in a Construction Skills Village in Scarborough. The project aims to boost the number of construction workers locally, to help deliver a projected 9,000 new homes in the borough by 2032.
Carolyn added: “The board is very friendly and everyone has an equal voice, it is also a good opportunity to network with colleagues from across a number of disciplines. There is no pre-qualification needed, just a commitment to improving the skills agenda and a wish to make a difference locally. It is a very interesting board to be part of and a rewarding role.”
The YNYER LEP is also recruiting to its main board, which helps set the strategic direction of the investment agenda by shaping future priorities, developing partnerships and securing investment from both public and private sectors.
New recruits will join the organisation as its geographical footprint shifts – from April 1 2020, the LEP will cover York and North Yorkshire.
A minimum commitment of six days a year is required for positions on both boards. The closing date for applications to join the Skills and Employability Board is Sunday 29 March and Sunday 24 May for the LEP Board. Application packs are available at:
www.businessinspiredgrowth.com/news/board-recruitment/