AMM Business Breakfast Brings Employers Together to Shape Future Skills Priorities
English | Cymraeg
Businesses from across the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (AMM) sector recently came together for a successful AMM Business Breakfast, aimed at encouraging new organisations to engage with the AMM Cluster Group and contribute to shaping future workforce and skills priorities for the sector.
The event opened with a welcome and introduction from Kristin Edwards, Regional Skills Partnership (RSP) AMM Manager, who provided an overview of the Regional Skills Partnership’s role in supporting employers across the region. Kristin highlighted the importance of collaboration between industry, training providers and stakeholders to ensure skills provision remains responsive to employer needs and supports the continued growth of the sector.
Attendees then heard from Joanne Daniels, Chair of the AMM Cluster Group, who provided a comprehensive overview of the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing sector. Joanne explored the opportunities and challenges facing businesses, highlighting the importance of employer engagement in developing the workforce needed to support future innovation, productivity and growth. She also outlined the benefits of becoming involved in the Cluster Group and the value of businesses working together to influence the skills agenda.
The breakfast also featured a presentation from Sion Meredith, who provided valuable information on the Flexible Skills Programme (FSP) and the opportunities available to employers through the scheme. Businesses gained practical guidance on the application process and learned how funded training can support workforce development, address skills gaps and help organisations respond to changing industry demands.
A key element of the morning was an interactive supplier engagement workshop, which focused on identifying current and future training provision requirements, as well as priorities for fully funded training support. Employers were encouraged to discuss the skills challenges facing their organisations, identify emerging workforce needs and share views on the types of training that would deliver the greatest benefit to the sector. The feedback gathered will help inform future planning and ensure that training provision remains aligned with employer demand.
Participants also received an update on the work of the AMM Consortium, which continues to strengthen collaboration across the sector. Discussions included progress on the development of a preferred supplier list, an initiative designed to support businesses by providing access to trusted suppliers and services while encouraging greater collaboration and opportunity-sharing within the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing community.
The event demonstrated the value of bringing employers together to share knowledge, discuss common challenges and influence future workforce development activity. It also highlighted the importance of partnership working between organisations such as the Regional Skills Partnership and the National Training Federation for Wales (NTFW) in supporting employers to access training opportunities and develop the skills required for future success.
With strong engagement throughout the morning and several businesses expressing an interest in becoming more involved with the AMM Cluster Group, the Business Breakfast marked another positive step towards building a stronger and more connected Advanced Materials and Manufacturing sector. By working collaboratively to identify skills needs and training priorities, employers are helping to ensure the sector is equipped with the talent, knowledge and expertise required to thrive in the years ahead.
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