Assessing employers recruitment and skills needs

CFE were commissioned by Norfolk Investing in Communities (IiC) in September 2007 to establish the recruitment and skills needs of Great Yarmouth employers and make recommendations to inform the design of a bespoke local training and support programme for Jobseeker Allowance (JSA) clamants.

The project consisted of, in brief:

  • A telephone survey of 305 employers within Great Yarmouth;
  • Follow up focus groups with 28 employers from a range of sectors; and
  • A workshop in January 2008 with private and public sector agencies to further develop possible models for training and support for JSA claimants.
The project focussed in particular on four agreed target sectors:
  • Retail and Wholesale
  • Hotel and Catering
  • Manufacturing and Construction (combined for research purposes)
  • Public Administration and Health
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;
  • Focusing on the skills identified as most needed by employers
The full 'Great Yarmouth Employers Research' report can be found here.

The appendices for the report can be found here.

More information about the project can be found in the case study available here.  


April 2008