EM3 has appointed a new strategist to step up its ambition to match residents’ talent with business needs, and help sustain our region’s highly skilled workforce.
With skills and talent critical to maintaining high productivity in our digitally advanced economy, new Skills Strategy Manager, Dr Jamie Mackay, will be developing robust, strategic relationships with education, business and local government to research and implement new ideas to align the supply and demand of skills in the region.
One of Jamie’s first tasks is to analyse and interpret the findings of research and analysis on the region’s labour market, carried out for our Local Industrial Strategy and identifying skills needs now and for the future, labour market challenges and recommendations for addressing them.
He said:
We have an older workforce, with the share of 25 to 34-year-olds set to decline over the years ahead. However, there is also a sustained inflow of 30 to 45-year olds – perhaps reflecting those wanting to maintain careers in, for example, London and finding the Enterprise M3 region an attractive destination to bring up a family.
Having been brought up in a Test Valley village before attending the University of Reading, Jamie worked in London and returned to the region for work and to start his family with his wife.
However, he wants to help alter this pattern for today’s students and future workforce.
He said:
We see many of our residents working outside of the region which is a travesty for regional growth. We need to work with education and business to ensure we increase the competitiveness of this region so that it is and known to be a great place to live, study, work and locate a business.
These link to his role in supporting EM3’s skills advisory panel – the Skills and Talent Action Group (STAG) – and turning strategy into action.
Jamie said:
We need to learn more from the employers - what they are doing to attract and retain a highly-skilled workforce; what are the specific skills’ needs and what are the relationships like with the talent pipeline?
From 1 April 2024, the responsibility for LEP functions across the Enterprise M3 LEP region has transferred to Hampshire County Council and Surrey County Council.
The Enterprise M3 Board met for the last time in March 2024 and Enterprise M3 LEP is no longer operating as an organisation.
For any enquiries relating to economic development across the counties of Hampshire and Surrey, please visit the Hampshire County Council website and Business Surrey respectively.
Please note that Enterprise M3 LEP staff have transferred to Hampshire County Council to continue to deliver services and activities in Hampshire, including the Growth Hub, the Careers Hub, work on key business sectors, and trade and investment.
They can be contacted at economic.development@hants.gov.uk.
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