The Authority's skills role

SHCSA coordinates the regional relationship between the economy, employers, councils, education and training providers and the Department for Work and Skills. Its role is to make sure regional growth and investment decisions take account of the skills and workforce needed to support them.

Understanding regional needs

The Authority brings together evidence about employment, participation, employer demand, accessibility, economic change and available training. Looking across the six council areas can reveal shared recruitment pressures, barriers to participation and gaps between expected growth and current provision.

Working with employers

Employers provide evidence about current and future workforce needs. SHCSA uses that information as part of the wider regional picture and can convene employers where common issues need a coordinated response.

Public decisions remain with the public authority that is legally responsible for them. Employer participation informs the evidence and partnership work; it does not transfer decision-making power.

Working with education and training providers

Providers retain responsibility for the education or training they deliver. SHCSA helps connect providers with regional priorities, employers and the wider growth and investment picture where regional priorities need to be coordinated.

Relationship with the Department for Work and Skills

The Department for Work and Skills retains central responsibility for skills policy. SHCSA represents the regional position and works with DWS where national or central policy needs to connect with conditions in Steadfast and Hearth.

Skills are considered alongside local growth, strategic investment, infrastructure and place. This helps the Authority understand whether planned economic activity has the workforce and training relationships needed to succeed.

Decisions and evidence

Formal skills-related decisions set out the regional purpose, evidence, partner responsibilities, financial implications and how progress will be monitored. Strategies, decisions and consultations are published through this website once approved. Performance information is then used to show whether the regional activity is producing the intended result.