Growth & Skills Strategy

Skills to power the Black Country’s future

Working with employers to build a skilled, productive and future-ready workforce.

Dudley College’s Growth and Skills Strategy sets out how we will work in partnership with employers to develop the skills the Black Country needs to grow, adapt and thrive.

Our focus is on:

• Supporting business growth and productivity
• Strengthening the local workforce at all levels
• Ensuring local people benefit directly from regional economic growth

This strategy has been shaped by regional priorities and employer feedback — and we now want to hear directly from you.

Why this matters to employers

The Black Country faces lower qualification levels, skills gaps at Levels 3–5 and challenges around workforce recruitment and retention.

At the same time, the West Midlands is forecast to create over 100,000 new jobs over the next decade, with strong growth in:

• Advanced manufacturing and automotive
• Construction and building services
• Digital and creative industries
• Health, care and professional services

Employers consistently tell us they need flexible, relevant and responsive skills solutions.

Dudley College exists to bridge this gap.

Aligned to regional and national priorities

Our strategy is directly aligned with:

• West Midlands Combined Authority Growth Plan
• Government Industrial Strategy
• Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs)
• Post-16 Education & Skills White Paper
• Lifelong Learning Entitlement (from 2026)

This ensures our provision is relevant, fundable and shaped by employer demand — not just qualifications.

Priority sectors

We are focusing our strategy on five sectors central to the Black Country economy:

1. Manufacturing, Advanced Manufacturing & Automotive
2. Construction & Building Services
3. Health & Social Care
4. Education & Professional Services
5. Digital, Creative & Service Economy

Across all sectors, we prioritise:

• Higher-level skills (Levels 4–6)
• Short, modular upskilling and retraining
• Digital, AI and green skills
• Clear progression pathways into employment and career advancement

What employers can expect

A simpler way to engage

We are committed to making it easier for employers to work with us by offering:

• Single points of contact
• Reduced bureaucracy
• Faster, clearer onboarding for apprenticeships and training

Our aim is to “hide the wiring” so you can focus on your workforce, not the system.

Flexible skills solutions

Employers will have access to:

• Apprenticeships, including foundation and higher-level routes
• T Levels with high-quality industry placements
• Short, modular courses for upskilling and retraining
• Skills Bootcamps, SWAPs and bespoke employer-led programmes
• Training aligned to shift patterns and SME needs

Job-ready talent

We work closely with employers to ensure learners arrive ready for work through:

• Work experience and placements
• Industry projects and live briefs
• Curriculum co-design and guest speakers
• Supported Internships for inclusive recruitment

Future skills embedded throughout

Regardless of sector, our training embeds:

• Digital and AI capability
• Green and sustainability skills
• Employability and transferable skills
• Inclusion and social mobility
• Health and wellbeing at work
• Innovation and future-focused practice

These are the skills employers consistently tell us they value most.

Beyond training: supporting business growth

We also support employers by:

• Connecting businesses to innovation and FE Innovation Services
• Raising awareness of emerging technologies
• Supporting productivity and digital adoption, particularly for SMEs

Our ambition is to be a long-term skills and growth partner.

Construction technical excellence

Dudley College is the Construction Technical Excellence College for the West Midlands, working with employers to address skills shortages in:

• Core construction trades
• Retrofit and green construction
• Low-carbon technologies

This work is employer-led and regionally coordinated.

What will change

Over the next three years we will:

• Move from transactional training to strategic partnerships
• Work closely with anchor employers in each sector
• Strengthen Employer Advisory Boards
• Provide clearer employer value propositions
• Share impact through regular industry outcome reports
• Improve data, insight and responsiveness