‘I’m determined to bring new jobs to the West of England, provided they are good jobs’

I promised to hold a jobs and skills summit in my first 100 days in office. That kicks off this week.

Continuing Covid restrictions mean it’s not entirely as I envisaged. However, it will be an important chance for people right across the West of England to find out more about the opportunities open to them.

There are free webinars with professional career coaches, a session on myth busting apprenticeships, and an online event on improving digital skills.

Jobs matter and I’ve had a wide range: a metro mayor, a government minister, a Bristol scaffolder, a Yate factory worker and a West child protection officer.

A baby born today will have many more jobs than this in their lifetime.

Jobs are not just work. Good ones give us an identity, pride and purpose. But today not all jobs are like that – denying dignity, security or future prospects.

Zero hours contracts must never mean putting in the hours but still not being able to pay the bills.

So, I’m determined to bring new jobs to the West of England, provided they are good jobs.

Trade unions are taking a central role in my Jobs and Skills Summit, because rights at work are vital and I know businesses boom where employers and trade unions work closely together.

The pandemic has shown rights matter when you are unwell too. As many have sadly discovered, sick pay levels are shockingly low.

Covid has also shone a light on stress, anxiety and depression. One-in-ten of us will face these challenges. So one of my summit’s webinars this week is all about work, wellbeing and feeling good.

Then, coming out of the summit, I will be working up a Good Employer Charter that rewards and encourages businesses to do the right thing by their staff.

In a 21st century post-pandemic world, green jobs will be at the heart of tackling the climate and biodiversity emergency.

Our region has around 6,250 low carbon jobs. but our ambitious plans for net-zero mean we need to turbo charge this.

Thousands of us will need to learn new skills including training up an army of retrofitters. I’m pledging to bring 23,000 new green jobs to our region.

Then there are questions around working from home. During Covid, this has definitely cut congestion and pollution.

Some bosses now want staff to return to the workplace, but what do you and your neighbours want to see in the future?

On day one of this week’s summit I’m meeting apprentices, including at Southmead and at a small company called Gemsec who are taking on a new apprentice thanks to a scheme backed by the West of England Combined Authority which I lead.

Some big businesses that pay the apprentice levy send their unused cash back to the Treasury in London. This could see £8m of unused levy funds returned each year.

Our vital scheme re-distributes this money locally because I’m determined to keep it in Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire where it can make a real difference.

This summit is an opportunity to showcase our region. From Brunel to Concorde to Wallace and Gromit – you and I know we are amazing. The rest of the UK and the world must know this too.

So whether it is the phenomenal technical work at the Composites Centre or our wonderful Watershed creatives, or any of the fantastic places I’m visiting this week, let’s be loud and proud so even more companies and organisations want to put down roots here.

And that will mean more good quality jobs, jobs, jobs!

Dan Norris is the West of England metro mayor. The West of England’s first Jobs & Skills Summit takes place from Monday to Friday. For more information, visit www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/west-of-england-jobs-and-skills-summit

Main photo: WECA

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