Issue - meetings

The Board was presented with the recommendations from the Employment, Learning and Skills, and Community PPB Inward Investment Scrutiny Topic Group.

Members were reminded that the group was established with four Members from the Board with support from various officers and Partner organisations, as listed in the report.  The Topic Group’s draft report was attached as Appendix 1.

The following comments were made by Members in relation to the report:

·       The success of the business tours was discussed and the possibility of including other Members in a future business tour;

·       Feedback had been received from employees regarding the lack of employability skills of school leavers with regards to behaviour and attitudes to work, which it was felt could be nurtured more in schools;

·       Links between industry and schools should be encouraged so that future work opportunities could be shown to them;

·       The possibility of an employability profile in schools was discussed and it was commented that this concept was being discussed with colleagues in the Education Department, with an aim to progress this in the future;

·       Clarification on the baseline date for the information as well as the level and type of Foreign Direct Investment identified; and

·       The need to maintain a local identity.

RESOLVED: That the Inward Investment Scrutiny Topic Group’s recommendations be endorsed.