Abstract
Amid an escalating skills shortage that threatens the long-term socioeconomic prosperity of the UK, the West Midlands both epitomises the national challenge and, at the same time, offers myriad opportunities to enact lasting change.
When it comes to skills, the regional characteristics are stark. The West Midlands is behind the UK average in qualification levels, with pupils typically averaging lower numbers of substantial Level 3 qualifications than the rest of England. The region is predicted to demonstrate the slowest rate of reduction in those with ‘no qualification’ status between 2017-2027, while the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) rate continues to grow. The West Midlands is significantly behind the rest of the country in A-Level attainment, a statistic exacerbated by the underrepresentation of disadvantaged learners in higher-level apprenticeships. Those who do attain a higher education qualification in the West Midlands are less likely to stay in the region upon graduation than elsewhere in the UK.
Of particular and growing importance are digital skills. Not only does the region’s tech sector have the potential to add £2.7bn in regional economic growth and 52,000 jobs over the next four years, digital skills are becoming increasingly critical to all sectors, from Business, Professional and Financial Services to health, advanced manufacturing to energy. And yet employers across the region today are reporting serious challenges in securing the levels of talent needed to ensure they remain at the cutting edge of technological delivery. It’s clear that business-as-usual will not be enough to resolve the region’s skills challenges.
This project is the first step in tackling these mounting issues. While the challenges are clear, so too is the shared appetite across the region’s universities, private and public sectors to invest in new ways of turning the West Midlands’ skills outlook around. This report details the outputs of research carried out by the University of Birmingham to capture insights from cross-sectoral representatives in the West Midlands. We outline how regions across the UK and father afield are maximising collaborative R&D power to tackle regional challenges, and examine how the West Midlands can best tap into its established ecosystem of leading businesses, universities, further education providers, and civic bodies to realise a step change in how we solve the region’s skills problem.
Our ultimate recommendation is to establish a dedicated Digital Skills Innovation District in Birmingham: an ambitious, long-term skills project that is developed by the region for the region. The district would be a thriving hub for industry, higher and further education, and civic organisations to develop and deliver new educational interventions which target the region’s most pressing skills challenges. It would seek to inspire learners young and old to explore new educational and professional pathways, and constantly learn from all regional stakeholders in order to grow and evolve over time. The innovation district would be sector agnostic, recognising the importance of digital skills to all employers, while at the same time mapping onto key regional sectors wherever possible to ensure continued contribution to economic stability and growth. And the district would also demonstrate the shared commitment and ambition across our organisational ecosystem to achieve the aims of devolution and the Levelling Up agenda, presenting a united front in tackling the regional skills challenges that would attract investment to achieve meaningful long-term success.
This report details the steps needed to make this ambition a reality.
When it comes to skills, the regional characteristics are stark. The West Midlands is behind the UK average in qualification levels, with pupils typically averaging lower numbers of substantial Level 3 qualifications than the rest of England. The region is predicted to demonstrate the slowest rate of reduction in those with ‘no qualification’ status between 2017-2027, while the NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) rate continues to grow. The West Midlands is significantly behind the rest of the country in A-Level attainment, a statistic exacerbated by the underrepresentation of disadvantaged learners in higher-level apprenticeships. Those who do attain a higher education qualification in the West Midlands are less likely to stay in the region upon graduation than elsewhere in the UK.
Of particular and growing importance are digital skills. Not only does the region’s tech sector have the potential to add £2.7bn in regional economic growth and 52,000 jobs over the next four years, digital skills are becoming increasingly critical to all sectors, from Business, Professional and Financial Services to health, advanced manufacturing to energy. And yet employers across the region today are reporting serious challenges in securing the levels of talent needed to ensure they remain at the cutting edge of technological delivery. It’s clear that business-as-usual will not be enough to resolve the region’s skills challenges.
This project is the first step in tackling these mounting issues. While the challenges are clear, so too is the shared appetite across the region’s universities, private and public sectors to invest in new ways of turning the West Midlands’ skills outlook around. This report details the outputs of research carried out by the University of Birmingham to capture insights from cross-sectoral representatives in the West Midlands. We outline how regions across the UK and father afield are maximising collaborative R&D power to tackle regional challenges, and examine how the West Midlands can best tap into its established ecosystem of leading businesses, universities, further education providers, and civic bodies to realise a step change in how we solve the region’s skills problem.
Our ultimate recommendation is to establish a dedicated Digital Skills Innovation District in Birmingham: an ambitious, long-term skills project that is developed by the region for the region. The district would be a thriving hub for industry, higher and further education, and civic organisations to develop and deliver new educational interventions which target the region’s most pressing skills challenges. It would seek to inspire learners young and old to explore new educational and professional pathways, and constantly learn from all regional stakeholders in order to grow and evolve over time. The innovation district would be sector agnostic, recognising the importance of digital skills to all employers, while at the same time mapping onto key regional sectors wherever possible to ensure continued contribution to economic stability and growth. And the district would also demonstrate the shared commitment and ambition across our organisational ecosystem to achieve the aims of devolution and the Levelling Up agenda, presenting a united front in tackling the regional skills challenges that would attract investment to achieve meaningful long-term success.
This report details the steps needed to make this ambition a reality.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publisher | University of Birmingham |
| Number of pages | 62 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2024 |