Employability and Skills
Our Approach
Purpose
The Centre for the New Midlands is establishing an Employability and Skills Board to generate independent, evidence-led insight that responds directly to the West Midlands’ labour-market realities.
The region faces some of the UK’s highest levels of economic inactivity, persistent productivity gaps, and deep inequalities between places. The Board will provide a policy platform capable of shaping long-term solutions that support growth and a competitive, future-ready workforce.
Why This Matters for the West Midlands
- The region’s labour market has been slower to recover from economic shocks than other parts of the UK.
- Youth unemployment remains above the national average in several local authority areas.
- Key sectors—including manufacturing, health and social care, professional services, and digital—report chronic skills shortages.
- The shift toward net zero, automation, and advanced manufacturing demands rapid reskilling, yet too many adults remain disconnected from training.
- Leadership capacity varies widely across institutions, affecting the region’s ability to respond to long-term structural challenges.
These issues require coordinated, evidence-driven action—something the new Board is designed to deliver.
Purpose
Strategic Priorities
1. Reducing Economic Inactivity & Improving
Employability
- Analyse
barriers to participation across communities disproportionately affected
(e.g., older workers, young people, those with long-term health
conditions).
- Map
mismatches between skills provision and employer demand across
LEP/combined authority geographies.
- Identify scalable interventions that link local training ecosystems with the region’s emerging growth sectors (clean tech, mobility, advanced manufacturing).
2. Building Leadership & Institutional Capacity
- Address
the region’s leadership challenge: improving capability, governance
culture, and organisational resilience across public institutions, anchor
organisations, and SMEs.
- Explore
how leadership development can strengthen local delivery of national and
regional priorities such as devolution, regeneration, and net-zero
transitions.
3. Strengthening the Talent Pipeline
- Identify
best practice in attracting and developing talent across key West Midlands
sectors.
- Understand
why skilled workers leave or stay in the region—and what policy levers can
reverse skills leakage.
- Support
employers to design progression pathways that boost productivity and
reduce churn.
Key Research Questions
- What
explains the West Midlands’ persistently high levels of economic
inactivity, and which interventions actually shift participation?
- How
well do FE, HE, and employer-led training systems respond to the region’s
industrial priorities?
- What
capabilities do local leaders need to deliver more effective policy and
navigate complexity?
- Which
talent practices—from large employers to community-led
initiatives—demonstrably move the dial on recruitment, retention, and
progression?
Planned Outputs
- Policy
Briefing Series
Short, targeted insights on economic inactivity, sector skills needs, leadership capability, and labour-market transitions. - Regional
Data and Evidence Dashboards
Clear, accessible intelligence for policymakers, businesses, and educators. - Leadership
& Talent Case Study Library
Spotlighting replicable models from across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, and surrounding areas. - Pilot
Project Recommendations
Evidence-based proposals for regional trial interventions aligned to devolved powers and local strategic priorities. - Stakeholder
Roundtables & Working Groups
Structured forums convening West Midlands employers, universities, colleges, councils, and community partners.
Our Leadership Board
Our work is guided by a team of experts who voluntarily share their time and expertise to support our research agenda. Our experts are drawn from across the region, across both the private and public sector but have the common goal of helping us to help shape an even ‘better’ West Midlands region.
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