Assessing employers recruitment and skills needs
Norfolk Investing in Communities (IiC)

CFE was commissioned by Norfolk Investing in Communities (IiC) to establish the recruitment and skills needs of Great Yarmouth employers and to make recommendations to inform the design of a bespoke local training and support programme for Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) clamaints.

In order to effectively identify employers’ needs, a mixed method approach was used including a telephone survey of over 300 employers, focus groups involving 28 employers from a range of sectors and a workshop bringing together the private and public sector to debate the research findings and ‘road test’ our recommendations

The project found:

  • Most vacancies (59%) were low skilled
  • Many employers (35%) encountered difficulties in recruiting required skills
  • Particular skills shortages existed around core skills of customer service, problem solving and team working
  • Lack of motivated job applicants significantly impacted on recruitment
  • General support for the development of a locally tailored training and support programme for JSA claimants
Drawing on the research findings, CFE developed several recommendations for consideration in designing any bespoke local training and support programme, these included:
  • Developing three main stages to the programme: pre-employment core skills training (with vocational/sector specific options), Work Placements, In-work support (including a ‘buddy system’);
  • A flexible approach with ‘pick and  mix’ options to meet differing employers needs;
  • Effectively building on current available provision;
  • Targeting sectors identified as experiencing the most difficulty in filling low skilled vacancies; and
  • Focusing on the skills identified as most needed by employers.  
CFE also identified several other issues for future consideration including: an expected increase in medium skill positions; a need to attract and retain graduates to hard to fill, high skill vacancies; a need to raise awareness and use of available mainstream services; and the importance of engaging employers on an ongoing basis to inform the local employment and skills agenda.

The final report is available here.