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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2017/jan/27/britain-skills-post-brexit-industrial-strategy-debate
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| Will the Midlands engine have enough skilled workers after Brexit? Live event | |
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| Philip Hammond’s budget on 8 March saw the chancellor commit to publishing a strategy for the Midlands engine, as part of the government’s active industrial policy. | Philip Hammond’s budget on 8 March saw the chancellor commit to publishing a strategy for the Midlands engine, as part of the government’s active industrial policy. |
| As Guardian deputy political editor Rowena Mason notes, this is a development of George Osborne’s northern powerhouse strategy, attempting to spread prosperity to all regions, not just the south east. The chancellor also announced a £690m competition for local authorities to tackle urban congestion. | As Guardian deputy political editor Rowena Mason notes, this is a development of George Osborne’s northern powerhouse strategy, attempting to spread prosperity to all regions, not just the south east. The chancellor also announced a £690m competition for local authorities to tackle urban congestion. |
| Infrastructure development is very much flavour of the moment, with both the UK and US governments. The UK government’s industrial strategy, announced by the prime minister on 23 January, promises sector deals, more investment in infrastructure and, crucially, a new system of technical education, including the new T-levels announced on 8 March by Hammond. | Infrastructure development is very much flavour of the moment, with both the UK and US governments. The UK government’s industrial strategy, announced by the prime minister on 23 January, promises sector deals, more investment in infrastructure and, crucially, a new system of technical education, including the new T-levels announced on 8 March by Hammond. |
| Birmingham, Coventry and the whole of the Midlands play a crucial part in the plans to increase economic prosperity. But such plans rest on having the right skills and that is already under question, particularly after Brexit. The strategy has already come under fire from some experts for not paying more attention to the need for increasing UK skills in the short term. | Birmingham, Coventry and the whole of the Midlands play a crucial part in the plans to increase economic prosperity. But such plans rest on having the right skills and that is already under question, particularly after Brexit. The strategy has already come under fire from some experts for not paying more attention to the need for increasing UK skills in the short term. |
| A recent National Audit Office report found that a third of major projects due in the next five years are in doubt or unachievable, largely because Whitehall lacks the project management skills necessary to deliver major schemes like Crossrail or HS2. The UK lacks construction skills, as well as engineers and technicians. | A recent National Audit Office report found that a third of major projects due in the next five years are in doubt or unachievable, largely because Whitehall lacks the project management skills necessary to deliver major schemes like Crossrail or HS2. The UK lacks construction skills, as well as engineers and technicians. |
| We want to know how the Midlands and other regions will ensure they have a bright future for the economies and their young people. If you are involved in training, educating, or hiring the engineers, technicians and transport staff of the future, we’d like to hear from you. | We want to know how the Midlands and other regions will ensure they have a bright future for the economies and their young people. If you are involved in training, educating, or hiring the engineers, technicians and transport staff of the future, we’d like to hear from you. |
| The Guardian is holding a panel debate in Birmingham, as part of our Connecting Britain series, supported by Alstom, to examine the practical impact of Brexit on the skills needed so urgently across the whole of the west Midlands. | The Guardian is holding a panel debate in Birmingham, as part of our Connecting Britain series, supported by Alstom, to examine the practical impact of Brexit on the skills needed so urgently across the whole of the west Midlands. |
| The debate will take place from 6pm - 8:30pm on Thursday 30 March 2017, Banqueting Suite, Birmingham Council House. | The debate will take place from 6pm - 8:30pm on Thursday 30 March 2017, Banqueting Suite, Birmingham Council House. |
| 6.00-6.30 Registration and networking6.30-7.30 Panel discussions: Does Britain have the infrastructure skills to support a post-Brexit industrial strategy?7.30-8.00 Audience Q&A8.00-8.30 Networking and drinks reception | 6.00-6.30 Registration and networking6.30-7.30 Panel discussions: Does Britain have the infrastructure skills to support a post-Brexit industrial strategy?7.30-8.00 Audience Q&A8.00-8.30 Networking and drinks reception |
| Our panel of experts will consider: | Our panel of experts will consider: |
| • Which skills are required to deliver major projects, and the UK skills shortage | • Which skills are required to deliver major projects, and the UK skills shortage |
| • The impact of government schemes, such as the focus on apprenticeships | • The impact of government schemes, such as the focus on apprenticeships |
| • Who else is offering long-term training schemes | • Who else is offering long-term training schemes |
| • Whether it is possible to divorce infrastructure plans from politics and the political cycle | • Whether it is possible to divorce infrastructure plans from politics and the political cycle |
| • Other answers to the UK skills crisis | • Other answers to the UK skills crisis |
| Chair | Chair |
| Jane Dudman, editor of Guardian Public Leaders and Guardian Housing | Jane Dudman, editor of Guardian Public Leaders and Guardian Housing |
| Panel | Panel |
| Alex Burrows, marketing & strategy director, Alstom UK&I | Alex Burrows, marketing & strategy director, Alstom UK&I |
| Piali Das Gupta, assistant chief executive, Birmingham City Council | Piali Das Gupta, assistant chief executive, Birmingham City Council |
| Terry Morgan, chairman, Crossrail | Terry Morgan, chairman, Crossrail |
| Clair Mowbray, chief executive, National College for High Speed Rail | Clair Mowbray, chief executive, National College for High Speed Rail |
| Clive Roberts, professor of railway systems and director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education | Clive Roberts, professor of railway systems and director of the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education |
| Laura Shoaf, managing director, Transport for West Midland | Laura Shoaf, managing director, Transport for West Midland |
| Is this event for you? | Is this event for you? |
| The event is aimed at professionals involved in public services, training, education and skills, whether you work in central government, local government, transport, skills and education, or in the private sector, as well as all those with an interest in the wider debate on the Midlands Engine, devolution and the UK’s economic development in the regions. | The event is aimed at professionals involved in public services, training, education and skills, whether you work in central government, local government, transport, skills and education, or in the private sector, as well as all those with an interest in the wider debate on the Midlands Engine, devolution and the UK’s economic development in the regions. |
| Sign up for your free weekly Guardian Public Leaders newsletter with news and analysis sent direct to you every Thursday. Follow us on Twitter via@Guardianpublic | Sign up for your free weekly Guardian Public Leaders newsletter with news and analysis sent direct to you every Thursday. Follow us on Twitter via@Guardianpublic |