A new partnership led by further education providers in the West Midlands and Warwickshire has been set up to improve the quality and accessibility of post-16 skills and training initiatives across the region.

Providing a platform for employers to browse different skills initiatives and engage with further education providers, Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire (SWMW) aims to reshape regional skills provision so that it better meets the needs of local businesses.

The partnership will play a central role in the delivery of the region’s Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP), which sets out the priorities for improving the provision of training initiatives and closing key skill gaps in the workforce.

One of the main obstacles identified in the region’s LSIP was a lack of awareness from employers surrounding the support available from further education providers, as well as mismatches between current skills provision and local business needs.

By bringing employers and education together, SWMW aims to simplify access to post-16 training and give businesses an active role in shaping the content and delivery of skills initiatives across the region.

Along with working with local businesses and training providers, SWMW will also support individual learners by sharing skills resources and signposting local employment opportunities.

Through closer collaboration and engagement between local enterprise and the further education system, SWMW is working to deliver the essential skills needed for businesses and the regional economy as a whole to grow, innovate and thrive.

Want to learn more about Skills West Midlands and Warwickshire? Read up on our mission and get to know the approach we are taking to reshape the region’s technical education and training system.