OUR WORKFORCE, OUR FUTURE West of Scotland Skills Survey 2018 Contents Foreword

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OUR WORKFORCE, OUR FUTURE West of Scotland Skills Survey 2018 Contents Foreword OUR WORKFORCE, OUR FUTURE West of Scotland Skills Survey 2018 Contents Foreword Foreword 1 The Glasgow City Deal, the Lightweight West College Scotland is It is vital, now delighted to publish the Manufacturing Centre in Renfrew and About us 3 the National Manufacturing Institute of findings of the West of more than ever, Scotland at Inchinnan should all be seen for educators to Scotland Skills Survey. as a vote of confidence in our region. What employers are reporting 4 be responsive to It is the first research of Nationally, our approach is in tune with the needs of our its kind to be conducted by the Scottish Government’s Economic economy and our Firmographics 6 a college or university in Strategy, particularly in fostering a employers in order culture of innovation, increasing our Scotland. We hope it reflects productivity and helping to deliver to equip ourselves Recruitment and Retention 8 our commitment to the West inclusive economic growth. This is to overcome the region and our ambitions for it. especially true of SMEs – a business challenges and grasp base into which the college sector has a the opportunities of Skills 10 231 organisations, employing more than unique reach. 65,000 people, in and around the West the future. region responded to our survey. These Globally, we live in the midst of Workforce Development 12 included many small and medium-sized the Fourth Industrial Revolution. enterprises (SMEs), well-known regional Globalisation and advancements in organisations and a number of FTSE- technology mean everything we do – Our College, Your Business 14 100 listed companies. from the way we live our lives as well as the way we work – will change in ways By responding to our survey, they have which most of us can’t imagine but Our Future 16 provided us with a unique insight into which are happening, somewhere, in the their priorities for the future and the world right now. challenges they will face. It is vital, now more than ever, for For us as a College, the findings provide educators to be responsive to the needs an excellent opportunity to build new of our economy and our employers in partnerships with some employers and order to equip ourselves to overcome the deepen our relationships with others, challenges and grasp the opportunities whilst ensuring we deliver what they need. of the future. They tell us what in our curriculum works This is the context and backdrop to this well and what may need to be reshaped. report, which also outlines how the Importantly, the findings also inform what College will use its expertise, facilities courses we should develop in order to and regional leadership to support assist, for example, workforce up-skilling businesses to meet the challenges and product innovation. They will help which they themselves have identified. future-proof West College Scotland. Finally, I would like to thank the many Regionally, however, I believe we have organisations who completed the West strong foundations upon which to build of Scotland Skills Survey and assure a vibrant and successful economy: them they have made an important productivity per head is the third-highest contribution to the future well-being of in Scotland and remains above the their own businesses, the communities national average, youth unemployment of our region and the thousands of Liz Connolly is lower than the rest of Scotland and people who come to West College overall employment is higher. Scotland now and in the future. Principal & Chief Executive 1 About us West College Scotland is one of the largest Campuses in At a Glance colleges in the country. We have more than 22,000 people studying at our campuses in Clydebank, Greenock and Paisley and we employ over 1,200 people – about 1% 22,100 students Teaching 4,000 pupils of total regional employment. from 32 schools Our College was formed in 2013 by the merger Clydebank Greenock Paisley Mode of study: of Clydebank College, James Watt College in Greenock and Reid Kerr College in Paisley. 84% Further Education Delivering more than 1,000 places within the Apprenticeship Family by 2020 Since our formation, the College has built a solid 16% Higher Education foundation, delivering first-class education and training to our students and forging partnerships West Dunbartonshire One of the largest employers with organisations across our region and beyond. 96% in the West region: The training and expertise we offer extends of our students go on to Inverclyde staff across a range of industries and sectors: from positive destinations 1,209 energy conservation and storage to integrated Renfrewshire 1% of total regional employment health and social care; from travel and tourism Glasgow to digital technology. 40% East of our students come from We have partnerships with stakeholders across Renfrewshire Total income: communities within the 20% four local authorities, and are in a unique position most deprived areas of Scotland £66 million to identify and deliver the training and skills needed by a modern regional economy. 2 3 What employers Of those employers with a skills gap in their workforce, 61% listed digital skills as a priority for improvement and are reporting 47% indicated that their employees required job-specific up-skilling 86% of employers provided staff training in the last year and 91% would have provided more training if they could have 231 organisations, employing more than 65,000 people, in and around the West region responded 9 in 10 92% 88% employers stated of employers who had of employers are that they have a not previously worked satisfied with the positive relationship with the College indicated work readiness of with the College that they would like to college leavers work together in the future 1 in 3 employers report that they have 86% difficulty retaining staff, citing the of employers reported skills gaps skills gap as the main reason for this in their current workforce Biggest challenges Barriers to growth: in the next year: 1 Skills Gap 1 Workforce Planning 2 Finance 2 Financial Sustainability Half of employers 3 Infrastructure and Tech who were recruiting had a hard-to-fill vacancy, citing a shortage of candidates 3 Business Growth with necessary qualifications and specialist skills 4 Expertise in Innovation 4 5 Firmographics Size: 231 organisations, DYW West employing more than Micro (1-9 staff) 36% The Developing the Young Workforce Small (10-49 staff) 34% (West) team is based at West College 65,000 people, Medium (50-249 staff) 16% Scotland’s Paisley campus. in and around the West region responded Large (250+ staff) 14% It has been given the important job by the Scottish Government of bringing together the College, schools, local government and businesses to deliver a step- change in employer engagement in our region. Part of this means getting employers to help shape the curriculum, Sector: making sure it is fit for the needs of a modern economy. Industries: Since its launch in 2014, DYW West and the College have worked together to prepare young people Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 3% for the world of work, in many cases giving them a 66% deeper understanding of digital and STEM (Science, Business Support 7% 21% Technology, Engineering and Maths) skills. Charity 12% For example, in November 2017 the DYW team and Creative Industries the College hosted a “Big Bang” event, a two-day 4% 13% festival of STEM-related, hands-on demonstrations Early Years and Childcare facilitated by 25 local employers. Supported by the 6% Private sector Third sector Public sector Energy Skills Partnership, the event attracted 400 Energy 2% local school pupils. As well as showing that STEM can be fun, Big Bang also taught them the importance of Financial and Legal Services 4% co-operating, of contributing ideas and the value of Government and Public Services 13% Areas of operation: teamwork. Hair and Beauty 3% This is one of several events organised and supported 14% by DYW (West) and West College Scotland. Hospitality 5% Manufacturing 10% Big Bang is just one Property and Construction 13% 45% excellent example of what 20% organisations like DYW and West Social Care 7% College Scotland can do when Transport 5% we work together – all for the 20% benefit of our young people, Wholesale and Retail 6% local employers and future Local Regional National International workforce. Bob Davidson, Programme Director, DYW West 6 7 Recruitment and Retention Recruiting the right people, Percentage of employers facing Percentage of employers who report with the right skills, to the difficulties in retaining staff: having hard-to-fill vacancies: Scottish right jobs is of paramount importance to employers. 26% Leather Group 34% So too is retaining talent in Scottish Leather Group employs around their workforce. 51% 600 people across three locations – Bridge of Weir, Paisley and Glasgow – More than half of recruiting employers report 66% 29% and is the largest manufacturer of they have at least one hard-to-fill vacancy, citing leather in the UK. necessary qualifications and specialist skills as SLG, named Scottish Exporter of the Year 2018, Difficulty retaining staff Yes being the most difficult to obtain from applicants. supplies luxury finished leather to blue chip No difficulty retaining staff No companies, such as Aston Martin, Jaguar, Emirates, One-third of employers told us they face Don’t know difficulties in retaining staff in particular roles. American Airlines and Virgin. In response to an identified skills gap in their Skills gaps in the workforce are identified as the Top ranking reasons for difficulties prospective employees and their existing workforce, Impact hard-to-fill vacancies are main driver of staff turnover – ahead of terms in retaining staff: the Group launched the SLG Academy in 2012 to attract having on the employer: and conditions, and labour market competition.
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