About us
Bringing business and education together to close the region’s skills gap
At Skills West Midlands + Warwickshire (Skills WM+W), we are dedicated to transforming the region’s skills landscape by fostering a dynamic partnership between local businesses and further education providers, including colleges and independent training providers. Our mission is to simplify your access to high-quality training initiatives, ensuring your workforce possesses the essential technical skills needed to drive innovation and sustainable growth across the West Midlands region.
We exist to bridge the gap between enterprise and education, equipping businesses like yours with the talent and capabilities required to thrive in a competitive market.
Developing the skills needed
to grow the regional economy
Working towards the objectives of the region’s Local Skills Improvement (LSIP), we are taking
strides to tackle skills shortages, driving innovation and community prosperity.
Government initiative
Businesses consulted
Providers on board
For Businesses
Analyse the skill gaps in your workforce and find staff training programmes delivered by local education providers.
For Providers
Promote skills initiatives and communicate directly with employers to better understand their training needs.
What people say
“In terms of an engagement model, it doesn’t matter which college we engage with as long as they’re reasonably local but having one central hub to engage with would be a lot easier. Having a portal where you can go to explore how you can work with colleges and schools would be ideal.”
“It would be good to have an individual local point of contact for FE colleges that would give the insight for all other establishments to find out what they offer and establish a connection to their students.”
“One point of contact across the various colleges that can help partner us up with the right students from the right colleges would be really helpful.
“It would be really useful to have a one stop shop where you can go to get all the information across the colleges regarding what they all offer.”
Employer skills report
This comprehensive analysis delves into the critical skills requirements of employers within priority growth sectors based across the WMW region.
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News + Blogs
Case Study – Concept Covers & Halesowen College
1. Company Overview Name of Company: Concept Covers Ltd Industry Sector: Manufacture of textiles Location: Lye, Stourbridge, West Midlands Concept Covers Ltd, based in Lye, Stourbridge, is a small UK manufacturer specialising in bespoke garment and protective textile...
CASE STUDY – ROYAL MAIL & HoW COLLEGE
Case Study 1: Business Impact Through Collaboration with Further Education 1. Company Overview Name of Company: Royal Mail Industry Sector: Communications Location: Worcester 2. Challenge or Opportunity Initial Business Need: Royal Mail sought to enhance the skillset...
LSIF project wins top Award
An Local Skills Improvement (LSIF) funded project, aimed to helping raise awareness about sustainability and green issues, has won a top award! The Green Changemakers Hub has recently won the Digital Futures category at the Green Gown Awards. The project started...
PTP Celebrates Success at the Black Country Apprenticeship Awards 2025
On 20 November 2025, the prestigious Black Country Apprenticeship Awards took place at the Copthorne Hotel, bringing together apprentices, employers, and training providers to celebrate achievement and dedication across the region. As a proud sponsor of the event, PTP...
