The Centre for the New Midlands has today published a new report, Skills to Success, setting out urgent recommendations to strengthen employability, improve workforce productivity, and better connect education with the needs of employers across the West Midlands.
The report captures the outcomes of a high-level roundtable hosted by the Centre in April 2026, bringing together more than 20 senior leaders from business, education, regional government and the third sector to examine the region’s growing skills and labour market challenges.
Sponsored by Talent Today and chaired by Ian Harrison, Director of Growhouse Growth Business and Chair of the Centre’s newly established Employability and Skills Board, the discussion focused on practical solutions to improve youth employability, close skills gaps and support long-term economic growth.
The report highlights several key challenges facing the region, including youth unemployment levels significantly above the national average, persistent skills shortages, and concerns around the disconnect between education outcomes and employer needs.
Among the findings, delegates stressed the increasing importance of soft skills, the growing impact of AI and automation on workforce requirements, and the need for stronger employer engagement throughout the education journey.
The report also identifies a series of opportunities for reform and collaboration, including scaling high-quality work experience programmes, improving vocational pathways, supporting flexible apprenticeships and creating stronger partnerships between employers and education providers.
Chris Smith, Founder and CEO of the Centre for the New Midlands, said:
“This report reflects our commitment to bringing together leaders from across the region to explore some of the Midlands’ most pressing skills and productivity challenges.
The discussions highlighted not only the scale of the challenge, but also the collective ambition and expertise that exists across the region to deliver meaningful, long-term change.”
Gary Wills, CEO of Talent Today, added:
“As a business leader working at the forefront of talent and workforce development, I see daily the disconnect between potential and opportunity.
This report highlights both the barriers businesses face in recruiting talent and the challenges young people face in accessing opportunities. It is an important contribution to the wider regional conversation.”
Ian Harrison, Chair of the Employability and Skills Board, said:
“The roundtable reinforced the urgency – and opportunity – of aligning employers, educators and policymakers around a shared agenda.
This report marks the starting point for the Board’s work as we seek to identify practical actions that can improve outcomes for young people and strengthen the region’s workforce.”
The Centre’s newly formed Employability and Skills Board will now use the findings to shape a programme of work focused on employability, workforce upskilling, regional productivity and the promotion of best practice across the Midlands.
Notes to Editors
The Skills to Success roundtable took place on 16 April 2026 at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and was attended by senior representatives from business, higher education, local government, professional services, manufacturing, construction, financial services and the third sector.
The Centre for the New Midlands is an independent organisation focused on creating a stronger, more inclusive and productive Midlands economy through research, convening and policy development.
For further information on the report, please do not hesitate to contact Chris Smith (Founder and CEO, CNM) by emailing chris@thenewmidlands.org.uk
The report can be viewed below, or is available to download by clicking here
