11 February 2008

CWEA Appoints Employment & Skills Co-ordinator

Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance (CWEA), in partnership with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), has appointed Andrew Heydeman to the new post of Employment and Skills Co-ordinator.

Andrew will support the Cheshire and Warrington Employment and Skills Board (CWEAS) to develop and ensure the delivery of an integrated employment and skills strategy for Cheshire and Warrington. This will involve working closely with public and private sector partners – in particular to identify and address changing business skills priorities.

Andrew joins CWEA from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) where he was Skills and Employment Manager leading on a wide range of national and regional employment and skills activities. This and previous job roles built up substantial experience in developing strategies, and converting these into the effective planning and delivery of numerous successful projects to improve the skills base of the region.

He led the pan-regional Northern Way projects to tackle Worklessness, which were publicly acknowledged at a national level as invaluable in producing an evidence base which has been utilised to influence policy formulation and implementation.

A Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development, Andrew has a high profile and excellent reputation both nationally and regionally in the skills/employment field, with over 20 years experience in working with employers on solving employment and skills issues.  He is on the UK panel of judges for the prestigious  National Training Awards, and was a representative on the steering group which set up the nationally
launched Train to Gain service.

Passionately committed to the importance of effective skills development, Andrew’s own interests include freelance sports writing and outdoor pursuits such as running and walking.

Martin Lee, Chief Executive of CWEA, says, “It is vital that as a sub region we give priority to employment and skills. Andrew’s key responsibilities will be to lead and support the development of the Employment and Skills Board and to engage with large employers in the area providing a clearer route for businesses skills issues to be raised and addressed.”

Liz Davis, Area Director of the LSC, says, “FE colleges and training providers are gearing up to better meet the needs of employers and the local economy.  The Employment and Skills Board will provide a mechanism for employers to tell us about the skills they need now and in the future to support their success and growth”.

This post is funded by CWEA, the NWDA and the LSC.

For further information contact:
Tina Johnston, External Relations Manager
Cheshire & Warrington Economic Alliance
Tel: 01606 734187; Email: Tina.Johnston@cwea.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

CWEA
Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance brings together leaders and influencers from both the public and private sector to work in partnership on a wide range of economic development issues in the sub region to ensure a dynamic, high quality environment for both business and residents. Visit www.cwea.org.uk.

LSC
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) exists to make England better skilled and more competitive and is responsible for ensuring the availability of high-quality education and training for everyone. The LSC has a single goal: to improve the skills of England’s young people and adults to world class standards. The vision is that young people and adults in England have knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a truly competitive workforce. The LSC works nationally, regionally and locally to deliver this ambition on behalf of learners and employers. The LSCs operations in Cheshire and Warrington are overseen by Liz Davis, Area Director, from their base in Middlewich. www.lsc.gov.uk

NWDA
CWEA is supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The NWDA leads the economic development and regeneration of England's Northwest and is responsible for:
• Supporting business growth and encouraging investment
• Matching skills provision to employer needs
• Creating the conditions for economic growth
• Connecting the region through effective transport and communication infrastructure
• Promoting the region’s outstanding quality of life
For further information visit: www.nwda.co.uk, www.englandsnorthwest.com

Cheshire & Warrington Employment & Skills Board (CWEAS)
The Cheshire & Warrington Employment & Skills Board was established in March 2007 as a response to the move to regional structures by both the Learning and& Skills Council and Business Link in order to provide a continuing focus on the development of skills in Cheshire and Warrington. CWEAS is chaired by a member of the CWEA Board of Directors. Members include local employers, employer’s organisations, local authorities, Learning & and Skills Council, Jobcentre Plus, Connexions, Business Link, public sector employment representative, HE representative, school representative, Sector Skills Council representative, Union representative, voluntary sector representative.