Tuesday 25 August 2020
Recent local media coverage has drawn attention to the importance of developing skills as a priority for the Bailiwick's recovery. This is very welcome, and the States of Guernsey is keen to provide an update of the progress made in delivering key skills growth initiatives as part of the Skills Guernsey Action Plan.
This progress, together with renewed emphasis through Guernsey's Revive and Thrive Strategy, demonstrates that government and industry are not standing still in ensuring that skills development continues to be a key priority.
Up until now the delivery of skills improvement initiatives have been delivered through 'Skills Guernsey'. The objective of Skills Guernsey is to ensure that Guernsey has a highly skilled workforce, equipped for the opportunities and challenges of the global economy. This is achieved by coordinating actions across government, the community and industry through a Skills Guernsey Action Plan. This was published in 2018 following engagement with industry and States of Guernsey delivery partners. Progress on the agreed actions since 2018 is noted in the attached progress update.
Deputy Andrea Dudley Owen, Vice President of the Committee for Economic Development said:
"Skills are key to our economic success and Guernsey has always managed to meet the skills requirements of employers. It is a constantly changing landscape though and even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Skills Guernsey had published an action plan to keep abreast with skills requirements. With the recognition that skills will be key to the recovery of our economy and to meet the challenged ahead I expect to see greater emphasis and funding for Skills Guernsey in the future."
In terms of initiatives which are already having an impact, of particular note are the large range of programs being delivered through The Guernsey Institute, which is currently providing technical, vocational and professional training to over 4,000 learners. Programs cover from entry level through to Master degrees and everything in between.
Deputy Mark Dorey, member of the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture commented:
"The Guernsey Institute takes pride in its ability to horizon scan in order to identify the skills needed by real people so that they can support the Bailiwick's growth and economic success and foster healthy and connected communities. During the Covid crisis, the Institute was able to work with Employment & Social Security to offer a range of programmes to support those recently made unemployed."
There has also been considerable progress made in the work needed to ensure that Guernsey employees are able to develop best in class digital skills, education and training. This includes changing the Bailiwick curriculum to include digital skills, awareness of digital careers promoted by the Digital Greenhouse, a successful digital internship program, a pilot digital Data Analyst apprenticeship, with fully funded positions for business, a number of fully funded Digital leadership boot camps, up to 1,000 licences available to access the Hive learning app and 10 fully funded scholarships in digital marketing through Squared online, starting next month.
