Southampton Skills Development Zone
The Southampton Skills Development Zone (SSDZ) is an initiative being delivered in Southampton City which focuses directly on the needs of local employers and individuals, working with them to find creative ways to address their skill and workforce development needs and to provide enhanced routes into work and education. It is a partnership initiative with Southampton Solent University, Southampton University Hospitals Trust, Southampton City Council, Southampton PCT, Jobcentre + and the Skills Funding Agency.
Aims and Objectives
Our strategic aim is to enable the workforce development needs and skills gaps identified by public and private sector employers to be met through a single coordinated source of provider information and contact management.
The initiative has two objectives
to provide a single coordinated source that responds to employer demand by either matching the provision to their needs or working with them to develop a model that will; and
to increase employment opportunities for individuals currently unemployed or economically inactive.
The SSDZ programme achieves its core objectives through the delivery of three core projects. These projects are
1. Worklessness and Newly Unemployed
2. Apprentices
3. Graduate Retention
These projects have developed well since January 2010 and a very successful programme of support is emerging for employers and individuals alike.
For more information on the Southampton Skills Development Zone please contact Debbie Dawkins, Skills Development Zone Coordinator on debbie.dawkins@solent.ac.uk
To find out more see the SSDZ video