Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership have today (4 July) announced that Worcestershire has achieved the strongest growth in higher level workforce skills for the second year running.
The ‘Inclusive Growth Monitor 2017’ report by Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), has measured that Worcestershire has achieved the strongest growth in higher level workforce skills in all LEP areas, between 2010 to 2015. This growth is due to a larger number of people in Worcestershire having higher level occupations and a higher quality of educational attainment, which forms a key part of inclusive growth; economic growth that benefits all parts of society.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s research also highlighted that Worcestershire has once again achieved the third highest growth in prosperity in all LEP areas, between 2010 to 2015, which factors in the county’s growing economy and stronger growth in higher level occupations and skills.
The county’s latest success follows the recent announcement that Worcestershire has achieved the highest growth in workforce productivity in the country. Earlier this year, Office of National Statistics data showed Worcestershire had achieved an annual average rate of productivity growth of 3%.
Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership has invested Government’s Growth Deal funds into a number of skills-based projects which will further develop the provision of skills in the county, including the North Worcestershire Engineering Centre of Excellence in Redditch which was opened earlier this year by Margot James MP.
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am delighted that Worcestershire continues to lead the way in terms of growing higher level workforce skills and local prosperity. The latest figures show that we are continuing to drive forward skills development opportunities and, by raising the skills of our local workforce, we are continuing to ensure that our local businesses are well equipped for the future of business with access to a talented employment base.”
Worcestershire’s success in achieving the strongest growth in higher level workforce skills for the second year running, will feature at this year’s Worcestershire LEP Annual Conference on 1 December 2017. To be added to the invitation list for Worcestershire LEP’s 2017 Annual Conference, email enquiries@wlep.co.uk
For further information on the latest research by Joseph Rowntree Foundation, visit their website www.jrf.org.uk