The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East is committed to ensuring that all individuals have the skills and qualifications necessary to gain work and progress within the workplace. One of the LSC's main aims, as set out in the Annual Statement of Priorities, is to raise its contribution to economic development through partnership working. As part of this, there is a clear focus on addressing low skills and reducing skills gaps. Skills are the key to sustainable employment - around half the adults with no qualifications are not in work compared with only one in five with Level 3. This is more important now than ever before as the number of jobs requiring higher level qualification increases and those requiring little or no qualifications diminishes. There are significant numbers of economically inactive people in the North-East and skills gaps in several key sectors. Getting the "workless" into work can help reduce those gaps and there is a need to ensure the workforce is equipped with skills and qualifications that employers need. Progress is being made in raising skills. Figures just released show almost three-quarters of the workforce now have a Level 2 qualification - the equivalent of five good GCSEs - and the minimum skill level required to get a job and improve their productivity. But more needs to be done. Chris Roberts, regional director, LSC North East, said: "Low skilled adults who are not working are a priority for us and for the past two years we have been working closely with Jobcentre Plus to implement joint plans to address their needs. We are working with our providers to ensure that appropriate learning opportunities are available and actively marketed to this group. "We are committed to making a significant contribution to implementing the ambitious proposals in the Regional Economic Strategy. This is not just about increasing the productivity of people already in work through Train to Gain but also working with regional partners to increase the number of people who are in sustainable employment. Through the Regional Employability Framework, we are working with our partners to plan our activities and funding more effectively in order to achieve this aim." LSC INITIATIVES The Train to Gain service is helping organisations get the training they need to stay ahead in a competitive environment by improving the skills of the workforce. Developed as part of a wider effort by the Regional Skills Partnership in the North-East to increase productivity and further regenerate the region, skills brokerage is available to all employers in the region. For more information about how Train to Gain can help, visit www.traintogain.gov.uk The LSC is also involved in a number of initiatives to get people into work, including trialling a Skills Coaching project in Tees Valley, aimed at helping low-skilled adults in the area find work. Skills Coaching is aimed at helping adults for whom a lack of skills is a barrier to them finding work and also for those claiming inactive benefits but who want to return to work and to take positive steps to enable them to do so. The initiative, which is funded by the LSC and run in conjunction with Jobcentre Plus and the nextstep service, has been running in other parts of the country and proving a success. Feedback from those who have been involved has highlighted improvements in motivation and self-confidence, as well as improving skills and opportunities to access learning. The programme involves skills coaches being located in Jobcentre Plus offices. Individual action plans are drawn up for customers before beginning their "skills coaching customer journey". The service includes an entry interview, skills assessment and diagnosis of needs, skills development plan and skills passport. The skills coaches help look for appropriate learning provision, best suited to the individual's needs, and are available to help throughout the person's learning. They work to identify skills gaps and understand individual customer needs and learning styles. The coaches are best placed to understand local learning provision and identify issues that could lead to an individual dropping out or under-achieving. They are on hand to monitor progress and provide support into learning and progression into work. Chris Roberts believes this project brings together the employment and skills agendas which are inextricably linked. He said: "Skills coaching was introduced as a result of the Government's drive to help adults achieve the skills they need to get work and progress within work. This project was all about helping raise the employment rate of the lowest qualified adults to help them achieve a Level 2, the minimum level required for employability. "Funding is also available to help individuals with additional costs such as childcare or interview expenses. I believe this initiative will make a real difference to the lives of those people who are out of work but who want to turn their lives around." Another initiative the LSC is involved with around the worklessness agenda is Wansbeck Works, a multi-agency approach aimed at bringing about a transformation in the way local partners work together to increase the number of people supported into work in the Wansbeck area. Information, advice and guidance are available to help individuals, aged 20 and over, who are looking to improve their career prospects through the LSC's nextstep service, whether that be learning new skills, retraining or gaining new qualifications. phone number styles all correctFor more information about what nexstep can offer in the Tyne and Wear and Northumberland areas, call 08000 730 708; in County Durham, (01388) 776911, and Tees Valley (01642) 358099. Information and advice is also available through learnDirect on 0800 100 900. | 
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