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New Plan Aims To Create Quality Career Opportunities For Islanders

Plans to arm a generation of Islanders with skills needed to drive the industries of tomorrow look set to be agreed by the Isle of Wight Council next week.

The Isle of Wight Skills Plan will provide a framework for local employers and educators to ensure access to training and education are matched by the skills demands of local industries and sectors.

Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, cabinet member for regeneration, said the future for a prosperous Island was dependent on people having the relevant skills to encourage inward investment and enable local business to thrive.

She said:

"Our Regeneration Strategy sets out our ambition to make the Island a great place to grow up, live, work and visit.

"Central to this is the need to ensure we have skills and education available to meet the current and future needs of all sectors.

"The Isle of Wight Skills Plan (will) give young people high quality career opportunities, helping adults train and upskill throughout their working lives.

"Raising the median wage on the Island is (also) a key priority."

Against a backdrop of increased youth unemployment due to Covid and a high demand for staff in key sectors such as care and hospitality, the report recognises the importance of addressing the skills mismatch across the jobs market.

There are already several programmes operating across the Island to promote skills and employability and to support vulnerable young people and adults at risk of social and economic exclusion, and these are also highlighted in the report.

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