Will Shepherd has been appointed to serve as the new Chair of Solihull Employment and Skills Board (SESB) after Paul Thandi stepped down from the Board in February.
SESB has been pivotal in shaping Solihull Council’s employment and skills support for local businesses and the community to help drive economic growth in the borough. By identifying skills gap in the workforce and potential growth opportunities, the Board works closely with key stakeholders to develop initiatives to give residents the skills employers need.
With 15 years of experience as the CEO of Cohesion, Will Shepherd will draw on his wealth of knowledge in recruitment and innovation to lead the Board, as well as acting as the voice of employers. He is passionate about helping to tackle unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. He was a Non-Executive Director for Miss Macaroon for 6 years, working with the leadership team of this social enterprise to motivate young people who have experienced long term unemployment to develop the necessary skills and aspiration to build successful careers.
Will said: “I am excited about this opportunity to apply my passion for employment and skills to the role of Chair of the Solihull Employment and Skills board. With a group of like-minded employers, working with the Council and other key local stakeholders, I know that we can have a positive impact on priorities for skills and employment locally.
“From youth unemployment initiatives, crucial work with schools, improving skill levels, and the need for hyper local community recruitment in certain sectors, I am looking forward to involving a strong group of local employers, with the aim of achieving better outcomes for both the current and future workforce within Solihull.”
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council and Portfolio Holder for Economy, said: “I would like to welcome Will to the Board and his new role in Solihull. I am sure that Will’s leadership will be invaluable in shaping our services while we strive to attract new investment and create new jobs. Tackling youth unemployment has always been one of our most important challenges. I am excited what Will can bring to the Board to increase our support for young people.”
Councillor Michael Gough, Portfolio Holder for Skills, Employment & Inclusion, said: “This marks a new chapter for the Board as we continue to develop the local workforce to meet employers’ needs while navigating future challenges. This year is the year of SME as declared by the government. As the leader of a SME himself, I believe that Will’s insights from his first-hand experience will be crucial to enhance our employment and skills support.”