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North West

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About the region

The North West is a region of contrasts covering the 5 areas of Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.

The region stretches from the Scottish border to the Dee Estuary and the Welsh border, and is bounded on the west by the Irish Sea and on the east by the Pennine Hills.

With a population of 6.8 million, the North West region is larger than several EU countries, and generates 11% of the UK’s Gross Domestic Product, despite the decline in traditional manufacturing and engineering industries. Whilst 80% of the area is rural, four fifths of its population live in the urban areas. Approximately 8% of people work in the healthcare sector.

Projects

Currently Skills for Health is involved in:

  • Working closely with key partners to identify regional priorities and actions in the context of the over-arching Sector Skills Agreement for England
  • Delivering the Joint Investment Framework to meet regional priorities, click here for more information
  • The NHS Skills Academy which develops, brokers and co-ordinates the delivery of a range of programmes which prepare people for coming into and continuing to work in the health sector. Click here for more information
  • Two ‘demonstration sites’ linked to developments in Higher Education
  • Embedding the use of competence-based approaches to planning and development including an extensive programme of hands-on training sessions in the use of electronic application tools
  • Working with Skills for Care in developing understanding and capacity within the region to support successful delivery of the new Society, Health and Development Diploma.
To read the full Labour Market Intelligence report on the region click here .

Key facts

  • 60% of people in the region live in Greater Manchester and Merseyside
  • NHS North West comprises 37 Trusts, of which 7 are Mental Health and 9 Foundation Trusts, 1 Care Trust, 24 Primary Care Trusts, two of which are Mental Health and the North West Ambulance Service
  • Nearly 3,000 registered charities with activities in health and well being
  • Around 220 independent organisations registered with the Healthcare Commission of North West England
  • Highest number of healthcare vacancies and highest percentage of skill shortage vacancies by comparison with other English regions.

North West news

Dianne Mardell
Regional Director North West

Tel: 01524 401239
Mob: 07747 562088
dianne.mardell@skillsforhealth.org.uk
Skype: dianne.mardell

Background
Diane joined Skills for Health in 2004 as a Programme Manager working with other Sector Skills Councils on cross sector skills issues. She was appointed in 2005 to Head of Marketing and Communications leading the introduction of a new visual identity, website and extranet systems. On 1st March 2008 Diane became Regional Director for the North West.

Clare Ashton
Regional Manager North West

Tel: 01942 262475
Mob: 07884 473513
clare.ashton@skillsforhealth.org.uk

Skills for business (external website)