Young people and employers across Swindon have welcomed the Borough’s first-ever Skills Strategy – a five-year plan designed to help residents into work and support businesses in building the skilled workforce they need to succeed.
Approved by Cabinet Members at Swindon Borough Council on Tuesday (10 September), the Swindon Skills Strategy 2025–2030 sets out a roadmap to strengthen the links between education, training, and employment.
The strategy has been shaped by more than 500 conversations with residents, schools, colleges, employers and community groups, through the Council’s “Let’s Talk Skills” events. From workshops to youth-led projects at The Base Youth Centre – supported by WAY, SMASH Youth Project and STEP – the plan reflects the voices of those it seeks to benefit most.
The strategy identifies five key priorities:
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Making advice about training and jobs easier to access
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Supporting young people to succeed in education and employment
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Ensuring opportunities are fair and inclusive
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Working with employers to plan for future skills needs
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Creating solutions in partnership with residents, schools, colleges, training providers and businesses
To oversee delivery, a new Skills Swindon Board will be established, bringing together employers, education providers, the Council, NHS partners, government departments and the voluntary sector. A three-year action plan will monitor progress to ensure the changes have real impact.
One Young Changemaker involved in shaping the plan said:
“It feels really empowering that the Council wants to hear about our experiences and work with us in a meaningful way to shape things in Swindon so that others can have the best possible experience of growing up here.”
Councillor Adorabelle Amaral Shaikh, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, added:
“This strategy has been shaped by the voices of residents, young people and employers. People told us they want better advice, more inclusive opportunities, and stronger connections between education and employment. Our new Swindon Skills Strategy responds directly to that, and I’m excited to see it put into action so that we can build a fairer, greener and better Swindon.”
The strategy also aligns with national priorities, including Skills England and the Government’s Get Britain Working White Paper, while addressing Swindon’s own community and business needs.
