The DWP/GOWM sponsored ‘Connecting people to work: Developing an Inclusive Workforce in the West Midlands’ Conference held on 30/11/09 explored current policy thinking on ‘closing the gap’, discussed and shared good practice, considered how local Economic Assessments and Work and Skills Plans can be used to improve services to, and outcomes for, BME groups.
The GOWM team leading on this will convene a Task and Finish Group in March and report by May 2010 on the effectiveness of current approaches to BME outreach and engagement, how the Panel might improve engagement and look to identify sustainable solutions to current BME rates of Worklessness.