Economic Development Strategy & Action Plan 2024 - 2028

Area of strategic focus 2: Skills Development

What we have achieved

Supported apprenticeships

The Council has a lengthy tradition of nurturing talent through apprenticeship programmes and is a keen supporter of the 'earn while you learn scheme'. The combination of workplace training and college study provides apprentices with the opportunity to gain valuable skills and knowledge, as well as a nationally-recognised qualification.

Since 2020, the Council has provided 41 apprenticeships up to degree-level and was awarded Apprenticeship Employer of the Year in the Grantham College 2023 Awards.

Created a grow your own culture of caring

The Council's commitment to investing in the growth and development of its staff has cemented its reputation of having a supportive and engaging workforce culture. However, the Council, in keeping with many authorities, is facing capacity and capability challenges.

To ensure the Council is well equipped and supported to deliver development now, and in readiness for the changes set out in the Government's Levelling Up and Regeneration Act, a programme of support is being progressed.

The Council's 'grow your own' ethos allows employees to progress their careers. This programme aims to provide the direct support needed, delivery of upskilling opportunities for existing employees and further development for the future pipeline into the profession. For example, staff who have recently graduated with an MSc in Town Planning are now working towards chartered membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Received the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award

In 2022, the Council received its Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award for outstanding support to the Armed Forces community – one of only 18 organisations across the East Midlands to hold the status.

Civic reception

Supported the networking event involving military, community, health, heritage and business leaders. The event was hosted at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.

Moved to new offices, with flexible and agile working

Following a prolonged period of remote working, the Council made a significant investment in new offices to create a collaborative and productive atmosphere. The brand new open-plan office stimulates cooperation between diverse teams and improves outcomes for the people, communities and businesses the Council serves.

What we will do

Reduce barriers to employment

• Establish a 'People and Skills' sub-group of the Local Economic Forum to complement, not duplicate, mainstream provision. Use UKSPF and other funding to help reduce the barriers some people face to employment and support them to move towards employment and education. This includes targeting funding into skills for local areas to support employment and local growth.

Develop skills by working in partnership with local educational facilities

• To feed the existing and future pipeline of planned developments throughout the District, it is necessary to have a robust and fit for purpose further and higher education offering. Targeting learning opportunities in areas where future job creation is most prevalent is going to be key to the skills delivery landscape. It will be necessary for key partners to work together on this endeavour.

Support a higher skilled and higher paid workforce across South Kesteven

• Support opportunities for greater levels of lifelong learning to include upskilling and reskilling people through their working lives, especially in green skills.

Foster an understanding of skills and training needs for the existing and future workforce

• Establish a vocational skills forum involving education and training providers, employers, awarding bodies, Lincolnshire County Council, the greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Careers & Enterprise Company.
• Hold a skills summit aimed at exploring how to improve work experience offerings, supporting businesses in improving their links with educators and promoting apprenticeships at all levels.

Support the delivery of Armed Forces Covenant pledges

• Continue to build on the good progress made delivering the Covenant, especially in raising awareness with the local business community of the advantages of tapping into the veterans' labour pool.
• Disseminate information to business groups to increase knowledge and lead to a more inclusive relationship with the military community.
• Provide opportunities to retain the District's young talent and to attract young professionals into the local economy.
• Link up with existing national and regional networks that support veterans.
• Promote the many skills gained by veterans that can be put to use in the business environment – from leadership to logistics, mechanics to engineering, digital technology to mapping.

Plan for jobs

• Continue to build on the good progress made on delivering the Covenant, especially in raising awareness to the local business community of the advantages of tapping into the veterans' labour pool.
• Disseminate information to business groups to increase knowledge and lead to a more inclusive relationship with the military community.
• Link up with existing national and regional networks that support veterans.
• Promote the many skills gained by veterans which can be put to use in the business environment – from leadership to logistics, mechanics to engineering, digital technology to mapping.

Develop diverse digital talent

• Focus and invest in ensuring residents have the digital skills and confidence to thrive. Create the conditions for digital businesses and entrepreneurs to see the District as an exciting choice to start, locate and scale their business.
• Work with colleges, university centres and partners to connect employers and learners though nationwide Skills Boot camps that give people the digital skills needed to take the first step into upskilling or changing their career path.
• From the perspective of the digital divide that hinders inclusiveness, consideration will be made to improving not only workers but also all members of society

Support emerging growth sectors and new employers

• Work with South Kesteven's two Further Education Colleges in Grantham and Stamford, universities and other local institutions to ensure skills are developed to support emerging growth sectors and new employers entering the District.

Later life learning and re-entry of older adults into the market place

• Work with workers, companies, non- governmental organisations and policy makers to raise awareness among businesses of the strategic and social benefits of an older workforce and prioritise the training of workers aged 50+ for the new world of work.
• Support businesses to redefine and expand roles to accommodate and meet the targeted needs of older workers to include nonlinear educational paths, returnships, internships, apprenticeships and job sharing.

Future skills for rural businesses

• Scope, plan and prioritise future rural skills, training and business support needs to strategically tackle the shortage in high and low skills in career pipelines. This comprehensive skills evaluation will look to formulate recommendations for targeting future skills delivery across the South Kesteven rural geography setting out priorities for the main rural sectors – agriculture, food and drink and horticulture production.