How does a Skills Brokerage System impact Norfolk Businesses?

This was the question we explored on Tuesday 20th January at the Maid’s Head Hotel, there was a buzz around the room as Dean Pierpoint, Skills Director at the Norfolk Chambers of Commerce provided an explanation, using the employers voice gathered from our survey, into the complex skills system that has been developed and why a brokerage system could help businesses to navigate and help to simplify the system. Katy Dorman, Apprenticeship Strategy Manager for Apprenticeships Norfolk, followed up and explained how a brokerage system has brought success to Apprenticeships Norfolk.  

Employers and training providers were made to earn their breakfast as roundtable discussions got underway. Engaging conversations were had throughout the room as 3 key questions were put forward and the 3 top answers:

What part of the brokerage service would make the biggest positive difference to your organisation?  

• Single point of contact & visibility of the service 

• Signposting and awareness of opportunities 

• Full-service knowledge e.g. grants, funding, sharing of knowledge and understanding of terminology 

What barriers or challenges should the brokerage solve first to be genuinely useful for employers?  

• Lack of connectivity – available providers, flexibility, support 

• Understanding what the business really needs – more focus on upskilling 

• Collaboration between training providers 

What does success look like for you if brokerage becomes fully operational? 

• People in learning, in the correct courses, with the correct output 

• A simple to navigate, understandable skills system 

• Focussed brokerage for specific industries – supported through the whole process 

Employers are clear that brokerage only adds value if it simplifies an otherwise fragmented system. Guidance and support through the system are the biggest challenges that need to be addressed and a hub of individuals that understand what’s best for businesses and able to assign the best provision to the business. Ultimately the goal of brokerage would be to put people on appropriate courses for the individual and the business.