EDUCATION

Building back better

Our approach

Professor Kiran Trehan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Partnership and Engagement

At the University of York, we’re committed to ensuring that, as an anchor institution, we shape, influence and contribute to the pressing economic and social issues we face locally and nationally. Lord Kerslake made an important point when he argued: “The deep economic and social changes that are happening in Britain today have made the civic role of universities even more vital to the places they are located. Universities have an irreplaceable and unique role in helping their host communities thrive and their own success is bound up with the success of the places that gave birth to them”. But what does that mean in practise and how are we addressing the skills and training gap in order to build back better? The pandemic has had a devastating effect on jobs and skills with young people and small and micro businesses being disproportionately affected, further compounding the patterns of inequality in our cities and our regions. These challenges open up new opportunities for us to help people through change and revitalise our skills agenda, by working with our stakeholders and communities to develop skills and training opportunities for people of all ages in our region. Thinking about the types of skills that will be required in the future, it is likely that, alongside communication skills, there will be a high demand for IT, digital and green skills, especially in construction, enterprise and e-commerce. Education, training and development has a vital role to play in the economic recovery process. This requires an integrated and holistic vision and strategy which puts enterprise skills and entrepreneurialism at the heart of innovation and growth. The work we are doing at the University of York with the YNY LEP, York City Council and partners across the city, creating new incubation spaces and developing a York accelerator is a great example of partnership in action. It is important that we do not lose sight of the entrepreneurial talent that exists in our region and in an effort to harness and develop this talent the University is launching two new initiatives: Firstly, the Institute for Enterprise and Leadership (IEL), which will provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for students, businesses, community organisations and policymakers/practitioners to access, and work with, the full range of the University’s offer to support enterprise development. The Institute will provide specialist training to SMEs to innovate and grow as well as supporting new start-ups and social enterprises. Secondly, we are launching plans for the York Guildhall to develop a hub for high growth businesses. The new spaces will enable the University to bring the support it offers to local business and enterprise into the heart of York, driving inclusive and sustainable growth in the city as it recovers from the pandemic. Within the Guildhall, we will provide flexible workspaces and business support for entrepreneurs and start-ups looking to locate, invest and grow in York. By working in close collaboration with partners including Make it York and the City of York Council, the University will offer opportunities for businesses to start, innovate and grow through incubator, accelerator and scale-up facilities. These two new initiatives will help foster a culture, which inspires entrepreneurial ambition, provides relevant skills training which is agile and responsive, and broadens our capacity to close the skills gaps. We all have an instrumental role to play in delivering economic and social prosperity, and in doing so we create a culture that makes the levelling up agenda everyone’s business.

EDUCATION

University of York student internships successes with local businesses

The University of York’s Student Internship Bureau, or SIB, has been offering businesses the opportunity to engage the talent, skills and enthusiasm of York students and graduates to tackle short to medium term projects of genuine value to the business for 15 years. Since September 2018, over 250 internship projects have been completed with businesses across the region. To facilitate these projects the SIB provides full support to the business by helping design appropriate projects and advertising and selecting the best candidates. This results in a hassle-free, efficient way of getting high quality students working on key projects. Furthermore, thanks to a generous gift from Santander Universities the SIB can provide a 50% subsidy to a number of internships within independently owned SMEs. Even during the restrictions of the last year, 32 University of York students and graduates undertook a diverse range of projects, working remotely on a virtual basis. The projects helped local employers to tackle business challenges, supporting many with building access to new, online markets. At the University’s annual ‘Intern of the Year’ event, a selection of these projects were celebrated and outstanding examples showcased. Leading the field for 2020 was Tara Boyd, a Psychology student. Tara worked for eight weeks as a Digital Marketing Intern with Glawning, a glamping company based in Harrogate. Over the course of her internship Tara significantly increased online engagement with the brand through improving their search engine optimisation, creating professional video content and completing an audit of their social media channels. The event also recognised the exceptional support and opportunities that the host employers provided during what has undoubtedly been a very challenging and uncertain year for many businesses, with the announcement of “Employer of the Year”. After a competitive nomination process, led by the interns themselves, HeyMe, a local communications consultancy business was selected as the 2020 Employer winner after providing a well supported and highly rewarding experience for Communications and Social Media Intern, Callum Whitten. Businesses interested in engaging an intern for this summer, either to deliver a project at their premises or virtually, can learn more by contacting careers-placements@york.ac.uk or visit www.york.ac.uk/business/sib.

EDUCATION

University support programmes for business

A range of new support programmes, with a value of over £6.9 million, are now available to eligible businesses in the region. Applicant companies must be a Small Medium Enterprise (SME) with less than 249 employees and either a balance sheet of less than €43M [£38M approx.] or an annual turnover of less than €50M. These programmes are led by Calderdale College.

Specialist Skills Support Programme

The Specialist Skills Support Programme will deliver a programme of support to York, North Yorkshire and East Riding-based eligible businesses and their employees. The Programme is part funded by the European Social Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

Ageing Workforce Programme

The Ageing Workforce Programme supports businesses with the issue of senior managers nearing retirement, resulting in a loss of skills and experience in the business. The business will receive consultancy and coaching support to help develop an ageing Specialist Skills Plan. This plan details how they will: • Identify the crucial skills and experience which could be lost through retirement. • Develop the skills of lower and middle managers to enable them to step up to these roles in the future. • Put processes into place to prevent future skills gaps when current middle managers reach retirement age. • Mentor lower and middle managers to support them in gaining the experience needed.

Attracting and Retaining Graduates Programme

The Attracting and Retaining Graduates Programme helps businesses who want to attract, employ, train and retain graduates within the business, by providing access to a ‘tool kit’ of materials that will give advice and guidance on writing job advertisements that will attract graduates, induction processes and development. The business will be able to send graduate employees on a rolling programme of development days. The events will address soft skills gaps often identified as significant deficits for early career graduates by employers. Examples of training to be included: Negotiation Skills, Dealing with Conflict, Business appropriate communication, Commercial awareness.

Changing National and International Markets Programme

The Changing National and International Markets Programme works with businesses to help them take advantage of opportunities presented by changing national and international markets. Delivery will take the form of action learning sets that specifically address: • How businesses establish and expand in new domestic and international markets. • How to develop new strategies and business models to drive performance and productivity. • The challenge of doing business in emerging markets.

For further information about any of these business support programmes, contact the University of York CPD Unit via cpd@york.ac.uk or on 01904 325145.

The Business

Scale Up

Development Programme

The BSUDP is a £2.8 million programme that is part funded by the European Social Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Business Scale Up Development Programme is an ambitious Leadership and Management project that targets and supports SMEs who are looking to ‘Scale-Up’ and achieve growth. Having the right skills to manage a growing workforce is critical for businesses and the project offers coaching and skills development for leaders and managers that will help them achieve their business goals.

Specialist Skills Providers offer expertise in a range of subjects including: Leadership & Management qualifications from levels 2 -5, Business growth, Business resilience, Change Management, Crisis Management, Reacting to change, Managing teams, Moving your business online, Succession planning and Business continuity.