PluggedIn: The enriching power of learning for local communities
Author: Alex Thomson, Localis, in the MJ |
The prime minister David Cameron once famously entreated the British public to ‘hug a hoodie’.
Now employment minister, Chris Grayling, has suggested that hoodies should be offered not just love but jobs as well, urging employers to look beyond more experienced and better presented Eastern European candidates, and prioritise instead local youths… which is undoubtably an admirable idea, although most businesses will only be tempted if they believe British youngsters are equipped with the right skills.
With this in mind, we at Localis are soon to publish our next Policy platform ? a series of e-publications available via www.localis.org.uk ? which includes opinion pieces by Ravi Govindia, the leader of Wandsworth LBC, and Maxine Room, principal of Lewisham College, which will offer a range of interesting views on skills funding.
The Government has pledged to give ‘local people a real say in decisions about their adult learning courses’. The 210m annual Community Learning budget is to help resource a series of pilots ? which will be rolled out more widely in 2013, if successful ? where skills colleges are to collaborate with businesses and community organisations in drawing up bids for funds they can use to shape local provision.
This is a positive step ? business must have a key part to play in the future of the skills agenda. After all, who is better placed to know what skills are needed in each area than local employers?
And who has a stronger interest in promoting a suitably-skilled local population?
The ministerial foreword to the Community Learning Trust Pilot prospectus speaks of the enriching power of learning, and its effect on the wellbeing of local communities cannot be overestimated.
But, there is a pragmatic dimension too. If skills funding can be directed ? through local public-private co-design ? towards areas which are both socially useful and economically viable, both local and national government may reap the rewards.
A more hopeful, aspirational population is ? as Mr Govindia points out in our Policy platform ? no small gain either.
Handing powers to local communities is not just an end in itself, but a means to a more dynamic economy. Encouragingly, councils are beginning to think big again, despite the present, necessary financial caution.
The proposed Leeds City Region, for instance, has set out its vision of a future ‘Neet-free’ area.
To meet the challenges of the future, local authorities and local enterprise partnerships should be encouraging the Government to cede power downwards, and engaging with their local businesses and community groups to take the pulse of their area.
Our Policy platform is intended to stimulate some much needed further debate along these lines.