Agenda item

(a)       That the key activities and outcomes from Flintshire Business Week 2015 be recognised and supported; and

(b)       That the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee be asked to look into the concerns of the Committee around skill shortages and review how schools are working to reduce this shortage.

The Enterprise Manager presented a report on the delivery and outcomes of Flintshire Business Week 2015 which had incorporated a regional theme to support local and regional business to maximise opportunities for investment, employment and skills.  She spoke about the growth of the event with continued improvements sought year on year to respond to the needs of the wider economy.

The Committee received a summary of the key activities from the event held in October 2015, with good outcomes reported against the aims and performance indicators, as set out in the report.  Delegate attendance had surpassed expectations, mainly due to the success of the Science Technology Engineering & Maths (STEM) event which gave high school students an opportunity to engage directly with the manufacturing sector.  Plans were underway on the 2016 Flintshire Business Week which would also celebrate its 10^th anniversary.

Councillor Derek Butler paid tribute to the small dedicated officer team and said that Flintshire Business Week was a widely recognised flagship event which demonstrated the richness of the county’s industries.  He commented on the positive feedback and record attendance for the 2015 event, particularly on the STEM event, and referred to the timing to coincide with the Wales Rally GB.

In congratulating the team, Councillor Paul Shotton particularly noted the excellent networking opportunities and quality seminars which had taken place.

Councillor Alison Halford asked about the role of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) and the availability of the business booklet highlighted by Councillor Butler.

Councillor Butler confirmed that the business booklet had been made available in the Members’ room.  He explained that the NWEAB was a regional partnership between the six North Wales Councils, chaired by Conwy, with priorities on the region’s economy, tourism, transport and infrastructure.  He advised that he was currently Vice-Chair of the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA) and was soon to be appointed Chair, and that an update on the MDA together with an overview of the ongoing work of the NWEAB would be received at the March meeting of the Committee.

Councillor Aaron Shotton referred to the ambitious programmes of the NWEAB which included representatives from each of the six Authorities and the work of the MDA in establishing links with North West England.

Councillor Rosetta Dolphin stated the need for a better understanding of the regeneration functions which were a new area of responsibility for the Committee.  She pointed out the shortage of skilled trades people and asked what was being done to encourage young people to take up this training.

Councillor Butler reported that some progress had been made to encourage local colleges to offer a range of skills courses.  The Enterprise Manager referred to the joined-up approach between the Council and its partners, such as Coleg Cambria, to develop opportunities across the region.  She added that investment often involved a slow process and spoke about the importance of ensuring young people were job-ready, working with existing companies in the process of expansion and engaging with larger contractors to develop opportunities for apprenticeships.

Councillor Aaron Shotton welcomed the future update report on regeneration to help the Committee to scrutinise these important issues.  He went on to refer to the steady growth in STEM events and in the number of young people taking advantage of employment and apprenticeship opportunities in Flintshire, which was not the case in some other counties.

Following comments from other Members, Councillor Paul Shotton felt that schools could do more to help address the shortage of trade skills and suggested that these concerns be relayed to the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee.  The Chief Officer advised of plans to promote different types of apprenticeships at a jobs fair as part of National Apprentice Week in March.  She agreed to share Members’ questions with colleagues from the education sector with whom officers would be engaging to find routes from schools to apprenticeships or work-based learning.

In highlighting the importance of Welsh Government support for the MDA, Councillor Arnold Woolley asked about progress with the Halton Curve.  Councillor Butler said that the achievements of the MDA had been acknowledged at ministerial level.  The Halton Curve project had been agreed.  He went on to say that the shortage in construction skills was a national problem as schools and colleges were lacking the infrastructure required, and that this would need to be addressed.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the key activities and outcomes from Flintshire Business Week 2015 be recognised and supported; and

(b)       That the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee be asked to look into the concerns of the Committee around skill shortages and review how schools are working to reduce this shortage.