EMPLOYERS are being urged to deliver their verdict on a proposed blueprint for post-16 education and training across Cumbria in the future.

A major consultation document, called Success for All, has been published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for Cumbria setting out a options for changes in provision.

The document, which raises issues affecting both the county as a whole and South Lakeland in particular, follows a detailed review of the learning and skills sector.

Now the LSC is a holding a consultation meeting to discuss the future skills blueprint at the Swan Hotel, Newby Bridge, on Monday, January 24, starting at 5pm.

Speaking at a similar meeting, held at Rheged, Penrith, this week, LSC executive director Mick Farley said better skills and higher qualifications were fundamental to achieving greater success in the county.

"No-one wants Cumbria to remain where it is now the fourth poorest sub-region in the nation. It is simply not acceptable."

He stressed the need to ensure as many people as possible gained NVQ level 3 qualifications, as those with much lower skills were the most likely to be out of work many drawing incapacity benefit that kept them out of the unemployment statistics.

"It is real unemployment which measures joblessness in an area and demonstrates the lack of opportunity in the area's economy," said Mr Farley.

"So if the economy is to improve and if there are to be sustainable communities, there needs to be a determined approach by all agencies and partners to the development of learning and skills.

"This means improving the participation and achievement of young people; raising levels of skills in the workforce which are below regional and national averages; developing the learning infrastructures; and raising aspirations."

The Success for All document raises a number of countywide issues, including: l Schools declining numbers of primary school pupils will eventually have a knock-on effect on the county's secondary school population. As a result, the document suggests further growth of school-based post-16 provision "would be neither academically nor financially desirable."

l Colleges while acknowledging that the quality of learning provision at Cumbria's four further education colleges has "improved markedly", the document says all colleges need extra funding to improve facilities.

l Work-based learning more young people and employers must become involved in training programmes. The document calls for an urgent plan to improve patchy countywide learning provision for adults.

Research shows one in 11 employers find it hard to fill a vacancy, mainly due to skills shortages, including skilled trades.

Yet nearly four out of ten employers do not train their workforce, blaming costs and inability to afford staff time off-the-job.

Employers in South Lakeland claim they cannot find training courses, particularly in construction and IT, according to the ducment, yet it points out that such courses are available at Kendal College.

The document says a key issue is the below average number of young people entering Kendal College.

Around 250 South Lakeland youngsters choose to attend courses at Lancaster and Morecambe College, believing it offered more choice and better facilities, according to a recent LSC survey.

While plenty of adults take part in training in South Lakeland, the document highlights "some disconnection" between what the local economy needs in terms of skills and what skills are being developed by employers and training providers.

Mr Farley urged anyone with an interest in the future of Cumbria to respond to the consultation document "so that Cumbria plc has an agreed learning and skills strategy fit for the 21st century."

l A copy of the document is available on the LSC's website at www.lsc.gov.uk/cumbria .