Workshop 7. 2 November, 12:30 - 14:00
What is your Vision for North Wales in the future, what kind of place would you want it to be?
A place where young people are proud of themselves, and their communities; a place where they develop a mindset, that enables them to become an integral part of their community, to contribute to it, and realise that they can develop a career within their community.
Promoting local entrepreneurs; using more local produce, to benefit the local economy.
Improved transport links, between North and South Wales.
More developments, to reach Carbon Net Zero, & use of sustainable materials /resources; transitioning to more economically friendly forms of transport.
Young People are not a homogenous group, they have different views, dependent on their pathways & experiences; important to maintain varied pathways.
Improved support for young people’s transition, from education, to the world of work.
Improved support for employers, which will encourage them to take on young people.
Thinking of your experience as a young person or, as someone who works or engages with young people in North Wales, what is the greatest challenge facing the North Wales economy?
Young people unaware of opportunities, to be enterprising within their own communities; they do not recognise the communities’ role, in a global economic context.
Young people don’t see a future for themselves in rural areas, lack of prospects; Young people willing to move to an area that promises a future, draw of large industries & better salaries. Loss of sixth forms from many rural secondary schools, results in early migration; it is a challenge to keep them in their communities, and in good jobs.
Don’t want economic growth having an effect on the environment.
Some consideration is required on how the consideration of local material can be considered as part of Procurement to save on carbon emissions - how can we be more sustainable with local produce?
Significant behavioural changes required.
Economic disparities between North and South Wales, North Wales tends to be left behind; we are secondary to everything that happens in South Wales, especially in rural areas; the majority move to Cardiff, Manchester or London.
Difficult competitive labour market for young people, with limited work experience; trying to get work in rural areas is difficult; poses a challenge to the Welsh language.
Young people need help with mental health issues and, to develop their softer skills.
Young people may be in a fragile place/low self-esteem/low aspirations; further away from finding work, due to feeling disengaged from their time in education; don’t know what they want; need to look at the outcomes of some employment schemes.
Parents and educators, need to better prepare and, equip young people for the world of work.
A challenge to get young people motivated to find employment, education, and training; this has been amplified by the pandemic; a challenge to promote the benefits of a working life/career aspirations; young people need to know what’s in the jobs market and, have realistic aims.
Lack of confidence is a challenge, although they may be highly qualified some lack knowledge e.g. on employability, how to produce CV’s, have fear of interview process.
Further barriers could be cost and availability of transport to commute to work.
Need to look at co-ordination and consistency of activities i.e. soft skills training in Wales.
Too much focus on major (large-scale) companies, compared to smaller businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs in North Wales; there needs to be exposure to industries and employers, who are running small/micro businesses.
Not enough appetite amongst employers, to recruit young people – need to highlight the benefits of employing young people, despite their lack of experience.
Thinking of your experience as a young person or, as someone who works or engages with young people in North Wales, what is the greatest opportunity to the North Wales economy?
How to sell opportunities and co-ordinate support for employment, is key; how we market the outcomes and benefits of being employed, rather than the job.
Opportunities for education and community businesses, to develop the skills needed by local industries, for the economy to thrive.
Preparing, and raising young people awareness of available opportunities, to be enterprising within their own communities; trust and support communities, work with them, to ensure sustainable economic development.
Covid-19 crisis, has allowed some to reshape their future, creating opportunities for themselves within the area.
The best opportunity in rural areas, is joining/input into these types of workshops.
There are opportunities to decarbonise the supply chain and businesses and, boosting the Welsh brand – can feed into tourism and produce. Need to use our Welsh language to an advantage.
Careers Wales have numerous datasets, relating to young people - need to build on these; they also have web tools that help people evaluate their strengths and weaknesses - need to promote to students of year 9 and above, and their families.
Schemes becoming more national - important to have a continuation of local schemes e.g. availability of local unpaid placements schemes, encouraging young people to work with teachers as bubble monitors; cost & funding is a barrier.
Young Persons Guarantee, can be a means of supporting young people in Wales.
Make greater use of technology and, the tech savvy skills of young people.
Thinking of your experience as a young person or, as someone who works or engages with young people in North Wales, what would be your top priority for the region?
How to sell opportunities and co-ordinate support for employment, is key.
More guidance and training required; more support & opportunities post University; more/improved communication from course providers for FE/HE students, whilst on their journey; developing the understanding of children of school age,that the world of work and careers, is important; increase work readiness.
Greater exposure to the world of work, with opportunities to foster self-respect, confidence and good mental health; awareness of young peoples struggles, in terms of mental health, and their distance from the world of work.
Effective engagement with as many employers as possible, particularly small & micro businesses.
Creating community opportunities, to allow young people to stay and, contribute to their economy; this would also strengthen the Welsh language.
Central Government and Local Authorities, need to re-think how they allocate funding – large private v community enterprises; trusting and supporting communities, would ensure a healthier, more profitable and sustainable economic future for communities and their young people.
Need individuals from local communities in the tourism sector - they have local knowledge, knowledge of the areas history and, stories about the area.
Upskilling young people, specifically in digital skills and online marketing.
Link with transport in area – improve infrastructure - roads and transport.
Ensure local young people, have the opportunities to enter the local housing market – able to buy their own property.
Decarbonisation across all sector – need to educate the population.
Working together has been identified as a key component within the REF - what will make securing the input of young people easier in the region?
Relevance - make it relevant to young people.
Work with education sector, HE and FE; workshops in schools and 6th form; provide training/opportunities for younger people, to ensure that they are suitably educated on the subject matter; important that sectors link-up with graduate schemes; raise awareness of session/workshops like this e.g establishing contact with schools in the area, for wider opinion/feedback - more voices.
Communicating with high growth sectors and, with young people in schools is important so, that they understand the priority sectors in North Wales, whilst selecting their subjects.
Have a young person as part of the Welsh Governement; young people need to see results from it.
Need to create community courses for young people; create strong links, that connect education and community businesses and, ensure they develop the skills needed by local industry, for the economy to thrive.
Give them pride in their roles and, their communities – develop a mindset of having a career, that will contribute to their communities; appreciate the wellbeing benefits, of being successful in their communities.
Young people lack a sense of belonging and, do not see a future for themselves in their rural areas. Need to create a targeted investment programme, to attract and retain talented young people in rural communities.
More engagement with community groups, young farmers etc.
Adjust communication strategy; use questionnaires; use social media; give a fresh look – not too much writing and information.
What are the barriers to young people’s collaboration?
Lack of confidence to express their opinions, they often feel that they cannot, due to their lack of experience – this can restrict collaboration.
Timing can be an issue, when sharing information with young people - targeting schools, may be a good option.
People more ready to share information/opinions face to face, rather than over the internet.