On Tuesday 14th February 2017, students and staff at Hugh Baird College welcomed Liverpool Walton MP and Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor candidate, Steve Rotheram, to the College for a round table discussion to talk about the future skills, employment and growth agenda of the Liverpool City Region.
Taking place at the College’s newly launched £2.5m Port Academy Liverpool building, the Metro Mayor candidate was joined by senior figures from the Liverpool City Region’s business and skills community and Hugh Baird College Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Yana Williams.
Organised by the Liverpool Walton MP, the round table exchanged ideas and views including the devolved powers to the Liverpool City Region of the Apprenticeship Levy Grant for employers, the Adult Skills Budget and the Post-16 Further Education system. Views were also sought on how the education and skills community could benefit from the Metro Mayor’s devolved powers to promote a quality education infrastructure in the region.
Steve Rotheram MP said:
“Devolution is all about being able to take the decisions that will help us close the North/South divide. The skills agenda is absolutely pivotal to how we lift the city region’s productivity and prosperity by ensuring local people have the right skills for our growth sectors.”
“My programme of round table events are intended to get the best and brightest minds from across the city region into a room to help inform the policies we need to translate vision into reality. I’m grateful to everyone who took part and, if elected, events such as this will continue to be an important feature of how my administration works.”
Hugh Baird College Principal and Chief Executive Officer Yana Williams said:
“We are delighted that Mr Rotheram chose to host this round table at Hugh Baird College.”
“As the economy of the Liverpool City Region grows, we have risen to the challenge of supporting young people in accessing the skills required for employment in the fastest growing and most innovative sectors of the region.”
“Working closely with Liverpool City Region Local Economic Partnership and employers, our study programmes have been designed to support the growing areas of employment in order to provide our learners with the best opportunities and successful careers.”
“I would like to thank Mr Rotheram and the delegates at today’s round table for a positive and constructive discussion on the future of skills, employment and growth in our region.”
Steve Rotheram will be running for Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor against Tony Caldeira (Conservative), Carl Cashman (Liberal Democrats), and Tom Crone (Green Party) in an election on 4th May 2017 and the mandate of the elected Metro Mayor will last until 2020 to coincide with the next General Election.