Northern Skills Network – New Year update from the Co-Chairs

Happy New Year from the Northern Skills Network (NSN)!

We want to start the year sharing some exciting news on the next phase of the NSN.  Since our launch in 2020 we have focused our priority on the regional networks across the North in developing a collaborative, supportive response to the pandemic, sharing critical data and updates on members, sectors and employers’ behaviour. 

Our regional networks cover all parts of the North, including Cheshire & Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Greater Merseyside, Lancashire, North East and Yorkshire. 

We now start 2022 with a new direction, sense of purpose and chair function for the board.  The NSN Board will now be led utilising a co-chairs role with a rotating lead chair every 6 months to ensure maximum impact and response to policy pieces and developments. 

The co-chairs will be Anne Gornall from GMLPN and Alex Miles from Yorkshire Learning Providers.

The NSN will lead, utilising regional networks and partners, in a series of policy pieces as set by the board, covering key priorities and addressing skills needs, gaps, analysis and developments to ensure our network & its members are a key partner in developing & influencing skills for the North. 

We are delighted to join the Northern Powerhouse Partners, Northern Skills Taskforce to ensure the training provider community across the Northern Powerhouse is a critical ally in the work they do to support apprenticeships, and the wider vocational skills agenda.  We also look forward to continue growing our relationship with strategic partner, NCFE, and working collaboratively to arrive at solutions which will benefit our member providers, employers and the wider FE landscape. 

The board of NSN is committing time & resource to help address levelling up, what that means to us across FE and how we can improve skills responsiveness & take-up across all employers, communities and sectors ensuring skills is at the heart of recovery and prosperity and can be accessed by all.

Our regional networks that make up The NSN and their members are always at the heart of what we do and supporting the drive in improving quality & professionalism across the FE & Skills landscape will remain a key priority and policy piece. This priority not only addresses ensuring the skills offer & curriculum is aligned to employer need and local skills gaps, but also in supporting the delivery and responsiveness of training organisations, galvanising and capacity building their ability in ensuring good quality education enables young people & adults to succeed, progress & thrive at any stage of their life.