CNSRP Executive and Advisory Board meetings 2012

Press release – Partnership focus on skills for north workforces

24th December 2012

2013 will see increasing focus on developing the skills required to keep the north’s economy moving.

That was the message from the recent meetings of the Advisory Board and Executive Board of the Caithness & North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership.

2012 has been a year of growth in some areas of the north economy, with difficulties in others. But agencies and businesses have agreed to redouble efforts to support growth, by maintaining innovative and flexible approaches to providing support to companies and individuals.

Sir Anthony Cleaver, the independent chair of the Partnership’s Executive Board, said:

“The value of bringing together the range of organisations that make up the CNSRP Advisory Board is that when issues arise the Advisory Board members are able to provide a structured assessment of them, and to pass on advice to the senior executives who attend the Partnership’s Executive Board.

We know that the ability to tap into a skilled workforce is an issue across the UK, but we feel that we have the right people and organisations working together to provide more local solutions. We are particularly grateful to have the input of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, who are able through the Partnership to work closely with bodies such as Skills Development Scotland, Job Centre Plus, North Highland College, Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Business Gateway.

The Chamber’s “Make The Right Connections” programme continues to support a range of businesses, and North Highland College’s innovative engineering apprenticeship programme has its first intake of students, showing that the area is making inroads into skills for both the current and the future workforces of the north. I am confident that 2013 will see further economic opportunity in Caithness & North Sutherland, and the partners in CNSRP have again committed themselves to working together to make sure that skills development remains at the heart of our programme of activities.”