The “Skills” theme focuses on issues related to aligning the UK’s workforce with emerging economic requirements. This need for alignment has become more crucial after the 2008 productivity slow-down, which was especially pronounced in Northern Ireland and Wales. Also, skills and employment patterns have been changing due to structural change over the medium-term plus the impacts of COVID-19 and Brexit.
Central to this theme is the idea of “local skills ecosystems”. These ecosystems are networks of educational institutions, businesses, and government bodies. They work together to update and improve the skills of the local workforce. In addition, such ecosystems are vital in avoiding “low skills traps”. These low skills equilibria occur when the balance of skills demand and supply hampers economic growth and workers’ career development. In this context, strong partnerships between universities, further education institutions, other training providers, and employers can enhance local productivity and innovation. They also ensure educational outcomes meet labour market needs.
Furthermore, the present theme explores the concept of “skills mobility”. Given that economic conditions vary widely across the UK, important questions are: What support do individuals need to enter the workforce? Once in employment, how easily can workers progress and augment and transfer their skills across different jobs, sectors, or locations? Overcoming structural, geographical, and other barriers is necessary. This makes the labour market more fluid and helps match skills efficiently with job opportunities.
Other key areas cover “green skills” and “skills for innovation” (including digital skills), which reflect a global move towards sustainable development and technological progress. In particular, the UK aims to reduce carbon emissions and boost technological innovation. This requires a future workforce skilled in green technologies and innovative methods. Consequently, this research theme explores policies aimed at integrating these skills into curricula and vocational training programmes.
Moreover, the theme aims to investigate the effectiveness of place-based skills initiatives. Such initiatives are crucial for addressing local skills shortages and aligning training with local economic needs, as well as enhancing job quality. Questions include the impact of these initiatives on local economies and possible lessons from international employment and skills development models.
Policy and reforms are under the microscope too. Skills development is a devolved responsibility and so managed differently across the UK: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own policies and frameworks. Within England, there are also some variations with varying skills devolution across combined authorities. Therefore, this theme analyses these frameworks to see how well they promote local skills development. Where possible, it also looks at how these frameworks can be optimised through evidence-based strategies.
Overall, the “Skills” research theme focuses on examining these complex issues through a local perspective. It acknowledges that “place” is about more than location – it also includes socio-economic and cultural contexts. Hence, this theme looks to provide insights that bridge the gap between current skills provision and future needs, thus ensuring all strategies are grounded in the real-world contexts of the communities and local economies they seek to assist.