the provision of WEST OF ENGLAND HGV DRIVER TRAINING SUPPORT PROJECT

The HGV Driver Training Support Project will focus on the regional labour market shortages of skilled HGV drivers. To achieve this, the West of England Combined Authority are looking to engage a sector specialist in logistics with substantial knowledge and experience in the sector, specifically in the engagement and support of businesses, providing business growth and workforce development solutions. The project is made up of three threads: sector promotion to residents (including a marketing and communications campaign), skills & recruitment, and business support.

The sector specialist will act as Project Manager in the delivery of the scheme, engaging an extensive set of stakeholders in industry, training providers and commissioned Combined Authority services including Workforce for the Future, Good Employment Charter and Growth Hub, who will provide additional support to employers. The sector specialist will also support and input into the delivery of a marketing and communications sector promotion campaign, targeted at residents, to help challenge negative perceptions of the sector and raise awareness of the opportunities in the sector. This will be work alongside the established Adult Education Budget (AEB) Sector Based Work Academies and the newly announced 'Boot Camps', one of which is centred on HGV training. The Project Manager will coordinate the range of support offers and stakeholders to ensure businesses and residents connect with relevant support.

Whilst addressing the immediate need of HGV drivers, this project also provides the opportunity to test a sector specific engagement and support approach, across a range of relevant West of England Combined Authority business & skills support services. Which will help the sector diversify their existing workforce, tap into the emerging talent pipeline (changing perceptions of the industry), and upskill their existing workforce.

The business & skills support element of the proposal will be delivered in partnership with the Growth Hub, which acts as the regions 'one front door' to business. This will increase the reach of these services to a sector that, to date, has relatively lower levels of engagement. The Project Manager will deliver a triage service to direct newly engaged Logistics employers to existing support provisions via the Growth Hub.

Requirements of the Contract:

The successful applicant will need to - • Engage an extensive set of stakeholders in industry, training providers, local authority representatives and commissioned Combined Authority services including Workforce for the Future and Growth Hub, who will engage and support employers. • Support the development and delivery of a marketing and communications plan, targeted at residents, developed in partnership with Local Authority Communities and Employment & Skills teams, to help challenge negative perceptions of the sector and raise awareness of the opportunities in the sector. • Independently market and engage bus