Decision details

To give approval to the Future Talent Plan overarching framework which is to be launched online in May 2022 and the enclosed Executive Summary, and the delivery approach.

To note that approval for the individual actions committed by partners is not being sought, because responsibility for their delivery remains with the businesses or organisations, but where necessary approval for new projects or initiatives arising from these actions will be delegated to the relevant officers; and because actions will be added or removed from the Future Talent Plan on an ongoing basis as part of an agile approach.

Although the Future Talent Plan will not directly have resource implications, it will help influence and shape the direction of funding streams including our adult education budget offer, employment support programmes, and other skills based programmes.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which presented details of the work undertaken to date to develop a new Talent Plan for Leeds and which sought approval of the proposed Future Talent Plan and delivery approach, including the vision and overarching action framework, as detailed at appendix 1 to the submitted report, which set out the high level action areas proposed to be used to shape the specific projects and initiatives of the Council and its partners.

In presenting the report, the Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education highlighted the key challenges currently being faced in the labour and skills market both locally and nationally and provided an overview of how the proposed plan looked to address such challenges.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board received further detail on the processes which would be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed plan. Information was specifically provided on how outcomes were currently measured in terms of those initiatives delivered by the Council, where Council resource or Council obtained grants were being utilised by partner organisations and via the continued use of data sources in the field of employment and skills. Members also noted the progress being made towards the adoption of the Social Progress Index, which it was noted would be a further source of relevant data.

Also in response to a Member’s enquiry, the Board received further detail on the initiatives in place to support existing members of the workforce who were seeking employment or a change in career, with a specific example being provided on initiatives in place to support that cohort in entering expanding industries in Leeds such as the digital sector.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Future Talent Plan and delivery approach, be approved, with the plan being developed online and launched in May 2022;

(b)  That the responsibility for the implementation of the Future Talent Plan be delegated to the Director of City Development, with the exception of any projects or initiatives identified that sit under the delegated authority of the Director of Resources which will be their responsibility to implement;

(c)  That it be noted that responsibility for any projects or initiatives included in the plan which are to be delivered by the Council’s partners in the city will remain with them.

Two rounds of public consultation for the overall Future Talent Plan were undertaken in 2021.

Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education

Business, educational and organisational representatives and members of the public from across the city.