Employer engagement continuum model > Relationship Development & Maintenance: Resources developed by other programmes

Relationship Development & Maintenance: Resources developed by other programmes

The Marchmont Observatory, who led the HE STEM Project Progressing from labour market intelligence to HE level provision that is well-supported by employers, have selected some key resources on the process of employer engagement from a range of other relevant funded programmes for inclusion on our website. These are resources that are likely to be of use to FE and HE practitioners who are involved in the process of employer engagement within their own institutions.

The South West Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project

The South West Higher Level Skills Pathfinder Project (SW HLSP) was funded by HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) and managed by HERDA South West (Higher Education Regional Development Association - South West) from 2007 to 2010. The project aimed to meet the demands of employers by providing them with higher level skills training to improve their business offering. It gave employers the opportunity to provide flexible training for their employees who could work towards university-level awards as part of their professional development.

The article below, Building a Cross-Boundary Team: Lessons from the South West Higher Level Skills Project was written by Deborah Winwood (Universities South West) and Richard Bolden (University of Exeter Business School. It reflects on the experiences of developing the intermediary team and supporting their cross-boundary activities within partner institutions in order to highlight key challenges and success criteria for this kind of initiative, in support of employer engagement.

Building a Cross-Boundary Team: Lessons from the SW HLSP

The SW HLSP document below, Guidance on conducting an organisational needs analysis was developed to assist individuals who are carrying out ONAs and includes some example questions. A common approach by a team to the outline structure of ONAs and how they are recorded ensures that all information necessary to continue the process is gathered and that all records are common.

Guidance on conducting an Organisational Needs Analysis

The SW HLSP document below, Business Improvement Skills Needs Analysis was developed for used during the ONAs to record information that helps identify where higher level skills gaps might exist within an organisation.

Business Improvement Skills Needs Analysis

Staff involved

Chris Evans
University of Exeter

Christine Keenan
Bournemouth University

Dr Xavier Velay
Bournemouth University

Hilary Stevens
University of Exeter

Hilary Todd
University of Exeter

Penny Mitchell
Bournemouth University