Skills Sub-group

The Skills Sub-group brings together expertise across a wide-range of public and private employers, education providers and stakeholder groups.

Working with our OxLEP Skills team, the Skills Board look to achieve improvements in the skills and abilities available to Oxfordshire’s employers and the learning opportunities available to young people, our residents and wider-workforce.

They are committed to:

• Having a current understanding of skills needs and priorities across Oxfordshire
• Strengthening links between business and providers of learning
• Improving skills and business support provision to employers
• Building stronger links with county and regional employment/skills bodies
• Raising aspirations and economic well-being

Chair: Iain Littlejohn 

Iain runs his own management consultancy business focused on strategic HR. It’s primary specialism is developing Target Operating Models and Organisation Designs for large organisations across all sectors.

Outside of his commercial interests, Iain has a strong interest in supporting education, and currently sits on four other Boards in this area; HESA (Higher Education Statistical Agency), ATOM! Festival of Science & Technology, Vale Academy Trust (Group of 10 local schools) and Causeway Education (enabling wider participation for higher education and apprenticeships) where he is Chair. He has previously also served as a local councillor and through this role been engaged with various local charities and civic organisations.

He has been a member of the Oxfordshire Skills Board since 2018. He has lived in Abingdon for nearly 30 years and is passionate about creating greater opportunities for young people in the area. Away from work, Iain is married with three grown up children, and enjoys sports, travel, reading and cooking.

 Other sub-group members:

• Helen Hall: UK Recruitment & Partnerships Director, Oxford Brookes University
• Kate Berman: Operations Director, Olamalu
• Jo Lynch: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire’s Senior Partnership Manager, DWP
• Kevin Gordon: Director for Childrens Services, Oxfordshire County Council
• Richard Kennell: Managing Director, SOFEA
• Simon Farrall: Head of Adult and Apprentice Training, MINI Plant Oxford BMW
• Prof Ewart Keep: Emeritus fellow in the Centre on Skills, Knowledge & Organisational Performance, Oxford University; and board member of the Scottish Funding Council
• John Pitchforth: Managing Director, Heritage Skills Academy deputised by Owain Johns, Development Director, Heritage Skills Academy
• Richard Byard: Director of Business Development, OxLEP
• Eddy McDowall: Chief Executive, Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers
• Matt Peachey: Economic Development Manager, Oxford City Council

Review upcoming and past sub-group meetings

Skills Advisory Panel:

From 2019, the Oxfordshire Skills Board has taken on the additional responsibilities of the Skills Advisory Panel (SAP) for the Department of Education (DfE) continuing to bring together key partners and stakeholders to strategically plan for an improved skills infrastructure for the benefit of Oxfordshire's communities. 

The primary role of the Skills Advisory Panel is to:

"Bring together local employers and skills providers to pool knowledge on skills and labour market needs, and to work together to understand and address key local challenges. This includes both immediate needs and challenges and looking at what is required to help local areas adapt to future labour market changes and to grasp future opportunities. This will help colleges, universities and other providers deliver the skills required by employers, now and in the future."

_{Skills Advisory Panels: Guidance on the role and governance, DfE, 2018}

Local Skills Report and Plan:

The Skills Advisory Panel Local Skills Report and Plan complements and supports the ambitions and priorities of our Economic Recovery Plan over the short term and the Local Industrial Strategy (LIS) over an extended period, to drive recovery and economic renewal, whilst building a resilient and inclusive economy for the future.

Download our Local Skills Report and Plan 

Download our Local Skills Report and Plan Annex A and B

Download our Skills Strategy