TALENT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND CAREER PATHWAYS

TALENT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS AND CAREER PATHWAYS Emily Templin Lesh, Assistant Director Colorado Workforce Development Council Emily. Lesh@state. co. us www. COWorkforce. Council. org www. Sectors. Summit. com

VISION: EVERY COLORADO BUSINESS HAS ACCESS TO A SKILLED WORKFORCE AND EVERY COLORADAN HAS ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, RESULTING IN STATEWIDE ECONOMIC VITALITY. MISSION: THE MISSION OF THE COUNCIL IS TO CREATE A BUSINESS‐FOCUSED WORKFORCE SYSTEM THAT EFFECTIVELY HELPS TO PREPARE COLORADANS FOR THE JOBS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

The Next Hour: Goal: You all walk away with an understanding of sector partnerships as the home for career pathway system building. How we’ll get there: • Colorado’s Talent Pipeline • Players in Colorado’s Talent Pipeline • Sector Strategies: Vehicle for Alignment with Industry • Career Pathways: Seamless Alignment across Systems for Students • What Sector Strategies mean to Career Pathways • End Result: Educated Workforce. Jobs. Thriving Economy.

The Talent Pipeline • K-12 - Public and Private • Community Colleges • Technical / Vocational Schools • 4 Year • Workforce Centers • Community Based Organizations • Human Service Organizations • Chambers of Commerce • Economic Development Organizations • Government

A Typical State of Play Community Colleges K-12 Education Large Aerospace Supplier Workforce Developmen t Chamber of Commerce Economic Developmen t Community Organization s Small Machine Shop Micro. Brewery

The Road to Alignment • Sector Strategies • Career Pathways

What is a sector partnership? An industry specific regional partnership led by business in partnership with economic development, education, and workforce development.

Today’s Sector Partnerships: • • Are employer-driven Are regional Are convened by a credible third party Act as a coordinating body across multiple education, workforce development, economic development and other programs Create highly customized responses to a target industry’s needs, and therefore highly accurate responses They are about more than workforce training Treat employers as partners, not just customers Are NOT a grant program, a short term project, a passing fad; they are a long term partnership

INDSURY PULL US INTO ALIGNMENT In Colorado, industry-led sector partnerships are the vehicle for aligning workforce development, education, and economic development initiatives with industries’ needs in an effective, results-driven manner.

A Typical State of Play Community Colleges K-12 Education Large Aerospace Supplier Workforce Developmen t Chamber of Commerce Economic Developmen t Community Organization s Small Machine Shop Micro. Brewery

Role of Public Partners • • First, listen and make space for the industry voice to emerge. Once industry leaders have defined their own agenda for action: – Interpret industry priorities and develop responsive solutions in partnership with industry and other public partners; – Act as a gateway into your institution, engaging others as needed, helping others understand how supporting the sector partnership’s priority aligns with the organization’s core mission or goals. – Broker collaborations across programs to develop customized solutions, (as opposed to relying on pre-existing programs within institutional silos); – Bring assets to the table (staff capacity, grant dollars, existing programs or program elements etc. ) that can be combined in different ways to respond to industry needs. – Provide project management support to advance sector partnership priorities, tracking progress, holding partners accountable, and driving toward action and results.

Public Partners Employers Create a forum for Industry-Driven Collaboration • Industry leaders define areas of shared priority • Teams of champions volunteer for each priority area • Listen-only mode initially • No assumed “solutions” or pre-conceived agenda • Identify neutral thirdparty to convene Develop Industry-Driven Agenda for Action • Move from ideas to action, employers clarify goals, outcomes, and implementation • Lead employer champions for ”Response/ Action Teams” drive development of an action plan and move to implementation • Partners help move “Response/ Action Teams” forward • Develop initial response that describes how public partners could work with employers to advance priority Industry-Led, Community. Supported Action to Support Industry Growth & Competitiveness • Employers and public partners work together to implement a shared action plan • Industry leaders set the agenda and champion specific action areas • Public partners respond collaborating across programs to support implementation of industry-driven priorities

Industry-led Career Pathways in Action: No. Co Manufacturing Sector Partnership

Impact on Businesses • • • New markets and products Stronger relationships with education Reduction in vacancy rates, recruitment costs, and employee turnover costs One company: 3 new jobs in last 12 months 2/3 rds report improved internal operation practices or policies (including training, HR, recruitment) Impact on Students • 8 new education or training programs • Many more that report improvements • Alignment of supply services with businesses needs

What is a Career Pathway System? Engages education and training providers in a continuous conversation with one another and with industry to ensure that students move seamlessly through and among educational institutions and workbased experiences to build skills and credentials that meet industry demand prepare them for jobs and careers.

What is a Career Pathway Program? A series of connected education and training programs, work experiences, and student support services that enable individuals to secure a job and advance in a demand industry or occupation.

Why do Sector Partnerships matter to Career Pathways? Sector Partnerships are the “home” for career pathway systems-building, engaging industry leaders and community partners in a continuous dialogue to ensure that education and training systems respond to industry needs.

Designs by

Summary: Key pieces to remember about Career Pathways § Systems made up of Programs § Organizes education, training, and other services to meet the particular needs of an individual in a manner that accelerates the educational and career advancement of the individual to the extent practicable § Coordinate among multiple education and training providers § Industry – driven: Engage regularly with employers § Prepares individual for success! In a full range of secondary or postsecondary education options, including registered apprenticeships

What does this all mean? Connect with the sector partnership in your region Responsive education system Timely curriculum and programs Increased employment opportunities, increased job satisfaction • Thriving industries • Good people in good jobs! • •

Reach out! Connect with Sector Partnerships! Emily Templin Lesh Colorado Workforce Development Council Assistant Director: Industry Engagement Emily. Lesh@state. co. us 303 -318 -8470 www. sectorssummit. com/toolkit