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APPROACH

Alignment with local and regional skills needs.

As the anchor institution for skills for Plymouth, and as a leading educational provider, City College Plymouth is committed to ensuring that our curriculum aligns with the evolving needs of local, regional and national employers.

The College sits at the intersection of the non-devolved Plymouth Local Authority, and the devolved areas of Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly (CIoS) combined authority, and Devon & Torbay combined authority. We also sit across two LSIPs; one for CIoS and another for Devon & Somerset.

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In our approach to meeting the priority skills needs set out in the respective growth plans, strategic skills plans, and LSIPs, we have ensured extensive engagement and consultation across all initiatives.

There is clear alignment across all five initiatives, with consistent themes reflected throughout our Accountability Statements.

In addition to these regional bodies, we also assess skills needs through engagement with a range of organisations, including leading the Skills Workstream for Team Plymouth and the skills pillar for the city of Plymouth. We sit on the Skills Board for the Devon & Torbay Combined Authority, are a core member of the South West Institute of Technology, and actively engage with a wide variety of industry bodies across multiple sectors.

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Engagement with employers

The College engages extensively with a diverse range of employers across Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall, as well as both nationally and internationally. We have built strong partnerships with tier-one companies, SMEs, strategic organisations, and community groups, ensuring a collaborative and demand-led approach to skills development. Key industry partners include Babcock International Group, Helsing, Kawasaki, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Princess Yachts, Livewell, Plymouth Argyle Community Trust, and Kier Construction as well as the wider supply chain that support these major employers.

Employers are fully embedded in our skills planning process, which informs the development of this Accountability Agreement. Their involvement spans from the initial review of existing provision and identification of gaps, to recognising emerging skills needs and informing programme adaptations, through to the co-design and co-delivery of our skills offer. As a result, all of our courses are employer-approved and endorsed.

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