Leading figures from the worlds of business, education, local authority and politics will be coming together for BusinessCloud’s breakfast event to discuss the skills gap and what can be done to tackle it.
The Contact Company’s state-of-the-art Kingsgate offices in Birkenhead will be hosting the event, which is being sponsored by Progress to Excellence Group and Peel Ports Group.
A stellar line-up of speakers include Dean Ward, founder & chief technical officer, Evoke Creative; Asif Hamid MBE, CEO, The Contact Company; Robyn Dooley, founder, OH; Sally Shah, Lead Commissioner: Place and Investment, Wirral Council; and Rechelle Davis, founder/creative & operational director, Energy Fairies.
The universities will also be presented by Jo Whittingham, senior professional tutor in accounting and finance, Liverpool Hope University, and Dr Edward Harcourt, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of External Engagement, Liverpool John Moores University. The other three speakers are Sandra Kirkham, group MD, Progress to Excellence Group; Amanda Willis, group head of HR, Peel Ports; Peel Ports apprentice Lewis Wooding-Smith.
Maritime; manufacturing; visitor economy; health; and energy have all been identified as key growth sectors for Liverpool City Region but what’s being done to ensure the conveyor belt of new recruits is keeping up with demand?
Staff recruitment and retention are the top priorities for business but whose job is it to make sure the universities are producing work-ready graduates and that the schools and colleges are encouraging apprenticeships?