We have been asked to represent the business community on the North West's Regional Skills and Employment Board (RSEB).
The RSEB was established to provide the economic steer for skills and employment in the region in particular agreeing and delivering regional skills and employment priorities, identifying and addressing systemic and market failures and providing the connectivity and coordination for initiatives to help to simplify the landscape at a regional and local level.
Chaired by Steven Broomhead, Northwest Regional Development Agencys chief executive the board includes representatives from the Learning and Skills Council, North West Universities Association, GONW, NWDA, Alliance of Sector Skills Councils and the TUC.
At the most recent meeting in May discussion focused on the economic climate, university response to the current economic conditions to support young people during the recession and the National Apprenticeship Service.
For further information or to express you view on the skills and employment issues facing the region contact damian.waters@cbi.org.uk
The CBI NW Regional Council is our formal policy making group.
Meeting four times a year, key issues for business at a regional, national and international level are discussed and the views of members put forward to the CBI's Chairmans committee by CBI policy people and our regional chairman Clive Elphick.
The decisions taken by this group with involvement from other more specialised working groups form the lobbying position we take when talking to government.
Elected members retire after three years service and no member may serve for more than two three-year terms consecutively.
Nomination papers will be circulated to all NW members mid-July. Members are free to nominate themselves or and director or senior executive of any member company in the North West including senior executives from branch establishments in the region.
For further information on the role of a regional councillor contact Damian Waters or Giles Fletcher.
The Joint Economic Commission's new website Support North West has been created to help promote the JEC role in the regional response to economic downturn, and aims to broaden awareness of its work among key regional stakeholders in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
The CBI has played a key part in the JEC since its creation, and is currently represented by regional chairman Clive Elphick.
We're keen to hear member concerns and aspirations for the north west economy to help inform and influence key regional and national policy decisions.