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Somerset Skills Survey

A report identifying the skills and needs of employers in Somerset has been published.

The Somerset Skills survey 2014, commissioned by Somerset Employment and Skills Group, was completed by 356 businesses across the county.

88% of respondents were from micro or small businesses. Wholesale and retail topped this chart, followed by business services and manufacturing.

The report identifies skills gaps and training needs as reported by Somerset businesses. In this instance, 42% of respondents cited their most common skills gap as technical, practical or job specific.

The Somerset Employment and Skills Group, and its key partners, will use the findings from the survey to inform and influence employment and skills priorities in the county and will share the data with colleges, schools, local agencies, training providers and other interested parties.

Please click here to read the full report.

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.