Wise Group and Purpose Coalition host skills roundtable as part of the Commission on Breaking Down Barriers to Employment Opportunity
The Wise Group and The Purpose Coalition has held a skills roundtable in Westminster, co-chaired by Wise Group CEO Sean Duffy and Crossbench Peer Lord Walney on the future of skills, as part of the Breaking Down Barriers to Employment Opportunity Commission.
Skills are a major barrier when it comes to employment opportunity, and the session focused on the importance of training support and funding to help people get back into employment. The latest research shows an estimated 20% of the workforce will be significantly underkilled for their jobs by 2030 – amounting to 6.5 million people. In addition, two-thirds of businesses say they struggle to recruit employees with the skills they need.
The roundtable took place as part of the Commission, which has brought together key Wise Group stakeholders, mentors and political leaders in the areas of employability, skills, energy advice, mentoring support and community justice.
During the session, Caroline Tolchard – a Wise Group Mentor in Sunderland – set out the lived experiences of a mentor and coach, and how relational mentoring and improving skills work in tandem to support people back into the labour market. Christina Brown set out the work of the Wise Group with schools and families to mitigate the risk of young people dropping out or going into the justice system.
The session also covered the Wise Group’s innovative online platform – Connect. Developed during the pandemic, Connect is an online life-skills learning platform, offering transferable skills to progress and succeed in everyday life. The success of the scheme was set out by Wise Group Assistant Director Suzanne McWilliams and UK Head of Employment and Skills Services Sean Donnelly.
Crossbench Peer and Purpose Coalition Engagement Director Lord Walney said:
“It was great to welcome the Wise Group to Westminster again for a thoughtful and insightful discussion about the vital role of skills in breaking down the barriers to employment opportunity.
The Wise Group does an amazing job in supporting thousands of people back into work, lifting people out of poverty, and building bridges to opportunity for the most vulnerable. I look forward to continuing to work with Sean, Victoria and the whole team at The Wise Group as we launch the Commission’s first report this summer.”
Chief Executive of The Wise Group Sean Duffy said:
"Our Mentors laid bare the vast capability we have across the UK and the need to address confidence levels to unlock it. A small segment of our society, often hidden, consumes the largest portion of our budget. With bold moves and common sense, we can prioritise effectively, swiftly advancing solutions for the post-school skills agenda."
Director of Engagement and Policy at The Wise Group, Victoria Carson said:
“Mentoring may not always be glamorous, but its impact is undeniable. By harnessing the power of Relational Mentoring and other proven methods, we can address the needs of the hidden population and advance social and economic progress in communities across the UK. This approach fosters financial prudence and societal well-being, promoting a harmonious balance between disadvantage and improved life chances”.
The Commission will launch its first report in June 2024 in the House of Commons, setting out bold recommendations for a new government to improve employment prospects across the UK. Further events and engagement as part of the Commission will also take place later in the year, including a formal launch of the Commission in the Scottish Parliament.
