Higher Level Skills and ESF seminar Tuesday 12 November 2013

SEMLEP and the University of BedfordshireEamonn Keenan

The South East Midlands

South East Midlands1.8 Million People141,000 businesses, of which 67,000 VAT registeredExpected growth of 300,000 more people by 2025/6127,000 new homes134,000 new jobs

Aylesbury ValeBedford BoroughCentral BedfordshireCherwellCorbyDaventryKetteringLutonNorthampton BoroughSouth NorthamptonshireWellingborough

University of Bedfordshire24K students, widening participation focus with strong FE and UTC links

Internationally excellent Social Work (Frontline national pilot, Tilda Goldberg Centre, Vauxhall Centre) Nursing and Health: pre/post registration and PG Medical School

Computer Science: Electronic and Systems Engineering; Robotics; Wireless Networks; Cybersecurity, Graphics and Visualisation

Very strong SME focus for KE and HLS activity

Growing short and professional courses portfolio linked to PSRBs

Luton: Main Campus, Putteridge Bury and ButterfieldBedford CampusAylesbury CampusMilton Keynes at UCMK

Locations

CWR brings together expertise in the area of mobile and wireless networks. With the exciting area of power harvesting on the rise, CWR has developed a unique technology which uses radio signals for powering electronic gadgets – which could eventually eliminate the need for batteries.

Centre for Wireless Research

Concentrates on research in computer graphics, computer animation and medical visualisation

CCGV collaborative work with more than 30 countries. Involved in 25 international projects and project co-ordinator in 9 of these.

Centre for computer graphics and visualisation

Luton Campus – PG-CPD Centre

Luton Campus – new library

Bedford campus – new teaching building

Luton – Putteridge Bury

Vision ‘Through effective engagement with businesses and strategic partners, deliver a step change in economic prospects across the UK's South East Midlands, encouraging new investment, innovation, learning, sustainable growth and employment’

GHK Local Economic Growth Index (Source: ICF GHK 2013)

European funding SEMLEP has a notional allocation of European funding of £75.6 million (€88.3 million) from the new EU 2014-20 programme.

What does the University do now?

• ‘Skills for Growth’ ESF co-financed project with Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire councils

• ‘Supporting Graduates in Employment’ in Leadership and Management• ESF-funded interventions in Luton on Innovation and Growth eg

‘Making Innovation Happen’ • DWP (JC+) Flexible Fund project addressing unemployment of

graduates and professionals over 50• HEFCE-supported Graduate internships project to 2011• Erasmus Lifelong Learning Programme ‘B-Innovative’ Project for

students, graduates and local community

“The techniques used to teach us PRINCE 2 were

amazing and it has made me more confident in practicing this way of managing projects.”

“Course and training were

excellent…really valuable.”

“The trainers shared great

knowledge and insight.”

“The tutor is amazing, really inspiring. It was one of the best

training programmes I’ve

ever done!”

“The trainer had a high level of

knowledge and a superb delivery

technique.”

“The mix of innovation

workshops and PRINCE 2 was

great!”

“The course really brought

project management

to life!”

“After 30 years away from the classroom it was a wonderful experience to become a student again and implement the skills and techniques learnt during the programme back into my business.”

Sharon Crosby, Blue Direct Limited

“The course was both enjoyable and informative and has helped me focus on the ongoing development needs of myself and my business.”

Ian Ambrose, A&D Creative Marketing

Knowledge Network – external and UoB Speakers Themed events, conferences Short courses: linked to PSRB L3 to L7 Short courses linked to PSRB and accredited by UoB L4 to

L7 Higher Apprenticeships* Award-bearing courses linked to PSRB Joint curriculum development / delivery partnerships

* Development work

Typical UoB HLS offer

Business process improvement for Manufacturing and Services

Skills updates in sales and marketingBespoke programmes in strategic sales managementArabic, Mandarin, Russian, German, Spanish for businessStudent and graduate placementsInnovation voucher and national KT schemesConsultancy services

Other support for Business Growth

South East Midlands HEI Group (SEMU)

Buckingham University University of Bedfordshire Cranfield University University of Northampton Open University

Current Collaborations

International, via SEMU group: Zhejiang Universities summer schools and HE-led trade mission planned for 2014

‘MK: SMART’ HEFCE-supported Catalyst Fund project, ‘an integrated innovation and support programme leveraging large-scale city data to drive economic growth’

Post-graduate Medical School (Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire) – joint Cranfield , University of Hertfordshire and University of Bedfordshire initiative

‘City Deal’ bid (infrastructure-led linked with private sector growth) including application for RGF for a ‘Growth Hub’ delivered by Chambers

SEMLEP Skills Forum for business, sector skills experts, and providers

European funding: LEP inviting EOIs from stakeholders for inclusion in Skills and Business Support actions

Number of sector-specific skills initiatives eg Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, Logistics, Digital Economy.

Where is SEMLEP going?

SEMLEP Skills Strategy and Skills Forum Purpose: ensure skills outcomes meet business needs (ref

EU investment etc) Overall aims: information; supply to match demand Objectives: provision, communication, promotion;

provider capacity, business –led delivery, pre-employment opportunities

Information share eg re sector skills needs and demand Sector skills briefings Signposting / awareness and recognition of respective offers Mutual trade reflecting our respective ATO/PSRB links Collaborative Bidding to SEMLEP ESF / ERDF and joined-up

approaches to sector needs Joint ‘skills pledges’ to inward investors Skills Investment Fund: support to employers based on growth

potential Single portal to ‘skills for business’ and competitive responses

What can we do together?