As chair of the new Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Workforce and Skills Board, I’m excited to share our vision to help shape the future of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly economy.

We are at a pivotal point, where strategic leadership and sustained investment can develop the skilled and thriving workforce we need to drive growth and realise our economic ambitions.

Our region is moving through a significant transition, with new Government policies and evolving local governance. At the heart of this change is the need to focus on skills and labour market development to ensure our economic future. The key to unlocking success lies in aligning employment opportunities with the right skills, creating transformational change for both current and future generations.

Over the past decade, we’ve seen promising progress. We’ve halved the number of individuals without a qualification and doubled the number of people with a Level 4 qualification. However, despite these successes, we still lag behind national and south west averages for higher-level skills. There’s clearly more to be done.

Addressing structural challenges

Our priorities are clear. We need to better understand the skills landscape, how we’ve addressed structural weaknesses through effective strategies and partnerships, and where current challenges remain. One of the most exciting developments is the new Adult Skills Fund for Cornwall, which will use powers devolved to us as part of the Level 2 Devolution Deal signed last year. This will allow us to direct investment toward the post-19 skills that are vital for our region’s future.

We are eagerly awaiting the Autumn Statement on October 30 for further clarity on skills policy and investment. The establishment of Skills England, which will unite businesses, training providers, and the government, presents a unique opportunity. It will allow us to refresh our own skills strategy, and ensure our programmes align with both local needs and national growth plans.

Showcasing our vision

We’ve invited the Minister for Skills, Baroness Smith, to visit Cornwall at the earliest opportunity. We want to showcase the unique opportunities and challenges in our region. Our goal is to build a long-term pipeline of skilled labour, essential for unlocking growth and breaking down barriers for people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We believe the minister’s evolving skills policies will be a real catalyst for economic growth. By supporting regions like ours, the Government can help develop the workforce needed to sustain that growth. We’re committed to creating clear pathways for education, lifelong learning, skills development and qualifications that meet the demands of the future labour market, in our existing core, foundational and distinctive sectors and exciting growth areas.

Securing future funding

While we have achieved so much, future funding from Government is vital. We are advocating for a £133 million annual investment programme to support the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (CIoS) economy, ensuring we don’t face a cliff edge when current funding ends in March 2025. Our Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme, valued at nearly £200 million and funded through the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, is already making a huge impact – creating jobs, upskilling residents, reducing carbon emissions, and improving green and blue spaces. But we want and need to do more.

Good Growth investment has been instrumental in supporting skills delivery across Cornwall and the three-year investment programme will see 1,400 people receive support to gain or sustain employment, more than 2,000 will gain qualifications, and over 6,200 volunteer opportunities will be created. Without confirmed funding beyond 2025, this vital support – and the dedicated teams of people providing it, along with their skills, knowledge and expertise – could be lost.

Looking ahead

The work we do now will shape the future of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for years to come. Through strategic leadership, targeted investment, and a commitment to understanding and addressing our region’s unique challenges, we can build a strong and resilient workforce. Together, we can ensure that our people have the skills they need to thrive, and that our economy continues to grow and prosper.

Professor Emma Hunt is vice-chancellor and chief executive of Falmouth University and chairs the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Workforce and Skills Board.