Call for employers to outline their skills needs

As Covid-19 restrictions continue to ease, the local authority has launched an Employer Skills Survey to help ensure that the right training and development programmes are put in place for supporting the county’s economic recovery.

It asks about vocational skills, as well as more ‘soft skills’ like communication and leadership, and also explores what types of training businesses have accessed, and any barriers to gaining suitable training.

Janice Rose, head of economy and regeneration at Northumberland County Council said: “As we begin to move out of lockdown and the economy starts to re-open, we want to make sure that Northumberland businesses have the workforce and the skills they need to succeed.

“We want to hear from businesses and understand their skills needs, and therefore how the council and partner agencies can best support them.

“We urge all businesses to complete the survey, which should only take around 10 minutes.

“Responses will be used to help the council and partner agencies to best support current and future skills and recruitment needs.”

Northumberland County Council works with partners and funding agencies to deliver a range of learning and skills support programmes, and the outcomes of this survey will help to develop and tailor these directly to current and future business needs.

To complete the survey, employers should follow the link in an email they receive or go to nland.uk/skills

Employers are asked to respond to the survey by Monday, June 21.