University of West London

FutureSkills - new approaches to employer engagement and work-based learning

FutureSkills underpins the University of West London's ambition to be the foremost employment engagement university in the UK and involves establishing three learning centres at Slough Trading Estate, Heathrow Airport and Park Royal. From these centres six skills advisors will work with employers of all sizes to address their immediate and future skills needs. The centres will provide a visible presence for the University of West London and accommodate facilities and services for employers (including training and meeting space, small conference venues, IT facilities, and hot desks for university staff).

No one provider can meet the skills needs of all employers. Consequently, FutureSkills will work closely with universities, colleges and other providers to ensure that employers can more easily access their expertise and capacity and that good practice is shared across the region.

FutureSkills includes a rapid response team to respond to employers' learning needs in person, by phone or by e-mail. Where the University of West London is unable to meet the employers' needs, the team will source a provider who can.

FutureSkills will also help early-stage businesses with enterprise advisors based at the university's Slough Enterprise Hub, and new business start-up facilities at The Doughnut Factory Acton and the Old Town Hall Southall.

Also included in the project is a development fund to support the design and delivery of products and services that meet the employer needs identified by the skills advisors and the rapid response team.

Funding award : £6,495,666