A MAJOR offensive is being launched this autumn to drive forward Basingstoke's economy by tackling job recruitment and the skills shortage in areas of low unemployment.

Two October workshops have been set up to bring employers, the local authority and educators together to thrash out the needs of the borough ahead of a major conference next January to try and develop a strategy for the future.

"Achieving the Vision" was formulated by the Local Strategic Partnership, an interface between business and the regulators.

It is now being taken forward by the Learning and Skills Unit of Basingstoke council, working together with key partners including businesses, schools and colleges.

Learning and skills is a priority in the council's three-year plan, which was published in April, and the next step comes with early morning breakfast seminars at Absolutely Offices in Chineham on October 6 and 20.

The conclusions of the seminars will be presented at a conference on January 13 before the launch of an action plan and strategy proposal to address the issues next March.

One of the key partners in "Achieving the Vision" is Basingstoke College of Technology, which is urging employers to become engaged in dialogue in a bid to solve the skills shortage and both the recruitment and retention of staff.

Beverley Flanagan (pictured above), director of marketing and communications at BCOT, said: "This is a partnership between the council, educators, training providers and, most importantly, businesses. The prosperity of the borough depends on having a thriving and sustainable workforce.

"This is not just about training a new generation of the workforce. It's also about up-skilling the current workforce in an age in which technology races ahead."

She added: "The purpose of this is to create a 'global' approach to keep this borough moving forward economically rather than adopting a piecemeal approach.

"The whole initiative is designed to be pro-active - not reactive."

Stressing the importance of a strong turnout for the workshops, Cllr Paul Harvey, the borough Cabinet's portfolio holder for learning and skills, said: "Basingstoke has one of the strongest economies in the South East.

"We know that our local businesses need a skilled workforce supported by excellent training opportunities. They tell us that recruitment and retention are their biggest issues.

"By bringing all this together, the aim is to produce a strategy for the way forward and for the benefit of businesses as well as local people."

Cllr Harvey added: "We want to bring businesses together with education and local people, so that the skills and training needs of our town will be effectively met.

"By listening to the needs of local businesses as well as our local workforce, we will ensure we keep our economy strong.

"This is why it is crucial that we get maximum participation in the workshops preceding the major conference and then the formation of the strategy.

"The partnership between our schools, colleges, businesses and the local community is important if we are really going to have an impact on people's skills."

Previous research by the council has shown that a lack of suitably skilled staff is an issue for about 70 per cent of Basingstoke businesses and that 29 per cent of unemployed people in the borough do not have any qualifications.

Information on the workshops is available from the Learning and Skills Unit at Basingstoke council on 01256 845525 or e-mail learningandskills@basingstoke.gov.uk