Member Article

Employment body to host first conference in Wales to unite jobs organisations and target skills crisis

A LEADING employment body will bring up to 50 organisations together under one roof for its first conference in Wales.

The IEP (Institute of Employability Professionals) is to host a regional networking event at Venue Cymru in Llandudno on Wednesday May 3.

Sponsored by PeoplePlus and supported by Conwy Employment Hub, the focus is on meeting recruitment demands in multiple industries and uniting the public and private sectors to share best practice and work closer together in the future.

Libby Duo FIEP, Strategic Manager for Conwy Employment Service - which delivers the Welsh Government’s Communities for Work Plus programme in the county - is a Fellow of the IEP and said it is pivotal the employability and skills sector “are on the same page” post-pandemic.

She added: “The current skills and employment system consists of national, regional, and local employment and skills related schemes managed by different organisations and agencies, and this provision expanded rapidly during the pandemic.

“Significant and different labour market and skills challenges and opportunities now exist at both a national and local level and the impact of Covid-19 has created new challenges, exacerbating previous ones we were already facing.

“This is the IEP’s first networking event in Wales, so we are pleased it is being held in this region where so much good work has taken place to develop skills and help people into jobs and education.

“We hope even more people sign up and join us as this is a great opportunity to work together to support social and economic recovery across North Wales, to celebrate and professionalise the employability sector - especially for those new to the industry - and shine a light on the best ways to move forward collectively.”

Among those set to be in attendance are Conwy County Borough Council, Welsh Government, RCS Wales, Creating Enterprise, Serco, Careers Wales, DWP, Coleg Cambria, Grwp Llandrillo Menai, NHS Wales, Capita, Trigon Recruitment, Court Enforcement Services and Ambition North Wales.

Launched in 2011, the IEP is the only professional membership institute for the employability profession, offering a wide range of services from mentoring to networking, training, and industry news.

IEP Group Chief Executive Scott Parkin FIEP said: “As the employability sector continues to evolve it’s important for employability professionals to have a platform to connect, share knowledge and learn from one another.

“We’re excited to host this regional networking event in Wales and bring together employability professionals and other stakeholders to collaborate, inspire and drive positive change in our communities.”

A spokesperson for PeoplePlus added: “We believe by bringing organisations and people together to create opportunities for meaningful employment that will contribute to the growth of the Welsh economy. This event presents us with the perfect opportunity to do that.”

The free event takes place from 11am-1pm and will feature seminars on topics including youth employment and mental health, local social provision and the economy and skills. There will also be lunch and networking, and a speed networking session.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin James Williams .