Chamber makes a 'Starting Point' in skills campaign

Greater Manchester Chamber has published a new report to launch its campaign to help make the skills system more responsive to the current and future demands of business.

The 'Starting Point' report, part of the 'Future of Skills 2028' campaign, highlights major concerns with the current system and sets out a series of actions that, together with Greater Manchester businesses, it will be tackling throughout the campaign.

The 'Future of Skills 2028' campaign will encourage schools, training providers and businesses to work together to ensure young people are prepared for the world of work and those in employment continue to learn and progress.

Chamber President Jane Boardman, who launched the initiative, said: “The world of work is changing at a rapid pace, and we can expect that the jobs and skills that fuel our economy will be very different in ten years’ time than they are today.

“The time is right to develop solutions that enable the skills system to deliver the needs of business and young people not just for today, but for the future. That is what ‘The Future of Skills 2028’ campaign is all about.”

The report is based on findings from the Chamber’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey and reveals employers’ concerns with the current skills system. The main findings were as follows:

77% of businesses felt young people were leaving school without adequate careers advice and guidance to be able to successfully enter the world of work

Over 47% felt that the lack of quality education up to the age of 18 in Greater Manchester had the single biggest negative impact on businesses wanting to develop their employees

Whilst 66% said they felt that the image of Apprenticeships was better than a decade ago, over 38% felt there was a lack of suitable apprenticeships

However, 60% favoured a UCAS-style system for Greater Manchester to advertise employment and training opportunities as highlighted in the GM Mayor’s Manifesto       

Digital skills, attracting young people into industry, infrastructure and lack of life-skills were also highlighted as other areas of major concern.

Greater Manchester Chamber will now be looking to work with stakeholders from across education, business and local government to find solutions to the issues raised in the survey through a series of roundtable events ahead of the next report, which will take a look at what skills and jobs can be expected to be found in the workplace in 2028. This work is being led by Market Research Company Join the Dots.