LANSS were delighted to attend this event alongside other employers, educators and local leaders from across Cumbria.
This event was delivered in collaboration with Enterprising Cumbria, and the aim was to explore how the region can better unite to support young people to understand and build skills essential for their future, ensuring consistency across education and employment.
It was acknowledged that many young people who are leaving education are not ‘career ready’, something which has been exacerbated by COVID.
We were introduced to Skills Builder's ‘Universal Framework’, which comes recommended as “the most accessible, research-backed and widely used common language for essential skills in the UK” and one which has already been widely adopted by organisations across the North West.
It replaces language like ‘soft skills’, ‘key skills’ and ‘employability’ and categorises essential skills into
The Framework offers both structure and clarity, enabling individuals to benchmark themselves as a starting point, and understand what progression looks like. Users are then able to recognise their own skills in order to develop them and have the confidence to tell prospective employers about them, giving real life examples.
We heard from several organisations, both employers and educators, who have already adopted the Framework and how it has helped.
The day really demonstrated how much potential and enthusiasm there is in Cumbria for a united approach to essential skills development to ensure that young people are equipped for the workplace, and to support businesses in strengthening their future workforce.
We at LANSS came away from the event determined to adopt the language of the Universal Framework within our remit to connect learners, employers and training providers. We even had a go at benchmarking our own skills, and found the experience of reflecting on our own skills and the practical activities suggested to develop even further invaluable to us both as individuals and as a team.
Do check out the website Skills Builder Partnership website – there are lots of resources available to download and use, or you can sign up for a tailored support package for your organisation.
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