Our progress in the South West

The delivery of a Sector Skills Agreement for Construction in the East Midlands depends on the full participation of all stakeholders, employers, employer organisations, trades unions, education and training providers and all major planning and funding agencies.

Established in 2003, the South West Construction Skills Forum is playing a leading role in identifying gaps and providing a co-ordinated response to the skills needs and productivity issues facing the region’s construction industry.

The Forum operates through five subgroups that are responsible for delivery of the key SSA challenges. These are:

• Improving business performance

• Qualifying the workforce

• Image and recruitment

• Higher education

• Equal opportunities

The Forum also provides the overarching link between ConstructionSkills and the operational groups of the ‘Constructive’ series. Both the Forum and its subgroups involve a wide range of strategic partners – these include the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA), all Local Learning and Skills Councils, Small Business Service, Jobcentre Plus, trade associations, Constructing Excellence, higher and further education.

Drawing on this broad base of local knowledge and expertise, the Forum has developed regional action plans that identify priority areas, work in progress and future activities. These collaborative actions support the SSA and are monitored against key targets which are reviewed regularly to ensure they keep pace with an ever-changing construction industry and its ever-changing skills demands.

Download a snapshot of: The South West 267kb PDF file.