Building the future workforce

When we talk about economic growth, the focus often falls on investment, infrastructure and productivity. All matter. But long-term prosperity depends on something more fundamental: people.

Across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Telford & Wrekin, employers continue to tell us how difficult it can be to recruit and retain the right skills. Workforce needs are changing quickly. Competition for talent is growing. In many sectors, the challenge is no longer only about filling today’s vacancies, but about building the workforce businesses will need.

That work begins long before a job advert is written. It starts when young people are still in education, forming ideas about their future and discovering what opportunities exist around them. This is where the Marches Careers Hub plays such an important role.

The Marches Careers Hub works with schools, colleges, employers and local partners to strengthen the link between education and employment. Its aim is simple: to help every young person access meaningful careers education and workplace experiences, so they can make informed choices about their future.

This matters because the labour market young people are entering looks very different from the one many adults would recognise. New industries are emerging, technology is transforming existing roles and employers increasingly require a blend of technical expertise and essential workplace skills.

Without regular contact with employers, many young people do not know what is available on their doorstep. They may not see the range of careers offered by local businesses or understand the routes into them through apprenticeships, technical qualifications, further training or employment.

Employer engagement helps close that gap and introduce young people to what is possible.

When businesses work with schools and colleges, they bring careers to life. They can talk about their sector, host workplace visits, offer work experience, support careers events or mentor young people. These encounters provide insight that a classroom alone cannot offer. They help young people understand not just what jobs exist, but the skills, behaviours and attitudes needed to succeed in them.

A single conversation with an employer can change how a young person sees their future. It can challenge assumptions, raise aspirations and expose young people to sectors they may never have considered – from advanced manufacturing and engineering to construction, digital, healthcare and professional services.

The benefit is not one-way. Employers gain from being involved. By engaging with the Marches Careers Hub, businesses help to shape the future talent pipeline rather than react to skills shortages once they have emerged. They can explain what their industry needs, promote local career pathways and build links with communities.

Businesses that take part in careers education also tell us it helps them meet social value commitments, strengthens their community profile, and offers valuable development opportunities for staff. Colleagues who mentor or support young people frequently gain confidence, leadership skills and renewed pride in their organisations.

This partnership approach is especially important in our region. If we want more young people to access local opportunities, and more employers to find the talent they need, education and industry must work together. Schools and colleges cannot prepare young people for the workplace in isolation. Employers cannot expect the education system to understand changing workforce demands without sharing their insight.

The Marches Careers Hub makes these connections easier. Whether you are a small business, a growing enterprise or a major employer, there are practical ways to get involved that reflect your time, capacity and expertise.

My message to employers is straightforward: your knowledge, experience and insight matters. By supporting careers education, you are not only helping young people make better decisions. You are investing in your future workforce, influencing the skills pipeline and helping to build a more resilient local economy.

Together, we can ensure more young people are inspired by local opportunities, more businesses can access the skills they need, and our region is better prepared for the future.

Pictured: Enterpriser Advisor Ian Cross assists young people at a recent Careers Hub Digital Skills event at Telford College

Matt Potts is service manager for economy, funding and skills at Shropshire Council, overseeing Invest in Shropshire.