Stevenage Borough Council - Life Science Clusters, Life Science Hubs and Information Technology Parks - Workforce
Workforce Summary
Stevenage has a higher than average number of jobs within the knowledge sector and a good supply of skilled employees throughout Hertfordshire, which has over 34% of the workforce educated to degree level compared to 28% for the UK.
Nature and structure of the labour force, demographics
Employee jobs (2007)
| Stevenage (employee jobs) | Stevenage (%) | East (%) | Great Britain (%) | |
| Total employee jobs | 42,400 | - | - | - |
| Full-time | 29,500 | 69.4 | 68.3 | 69.0 |
| Part-time | 13,000 | 30.6 | 31.7 | 31.0 |
Employee jobs by industry:
|
Stevenage (employee jobs) |
Stevenage (%) |
East (%) |
Great Britain (%) | |
| Manufacturing | 5,700 | 13.4 | 10.7 | 10.6 |
| Construction | 1,700 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 4.9 |
| Services | 34,900 | 82.2 | 81.8 | 83.0 |
| Distribution, hotels & restaurants | 8,800 | 20.8 | 24.7 | 23.3 |
| Transport & communications | 2,200 | 5.1 | 6.1 | 5.9 |
| Finance, IT, other business activities | 11,400 | 26.8 | 20.7 | 21.6 |
| Public admin, education & health | 10,500 | 24.7 | 25.5 | 26.9 |
| Other services | 2,000 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Tourism-related†| 2,600 | 6.2 | 7.6 | 8.2 |
Source: ONS annual population survey.
Education and Qualification
Qualifications (Jan 2008-Dec 2008)
| Stevenage (numbers) |
Stevenage (%) |
East (%) |
Great Britain (%) | |
| NVQ4 and above | 10,600 | 21.7 | 26.1 | 29.0 |
| NVQ3 and above | 23,300 | 47.5 | 43.4 | 47.0 |
| NVQ2 and above | 32,600 | 66.6 | 62.8 | 65.2 |
| NVQ1 and above | 40,800 | 83.3 | 78.8 | 78.9 |
| Other qualifications | 4,700 | 9.5 | 9.3 | 8.7 |
| No qualifications | 3,500 | 7.2 | 11.8 | 12.4 |
Source: ONS annual population survey.
Availability
Stevenage has a skilled workforce with well above the national and regional average for level 1, level 2 and level 3 skills. Within the wider commuting area, Stevenage benefits from many more very highly skilled workers, allowing the local business base to be one of the most knowledge intensive in the region.
Labour Costs
Earnings by residence (2008)
Gross weekly pay:
| Stevenage (pounds) | East (pounds) | Great Britain (pounds) | |
| Full-time workers | 476.2 | 498.7 | 479.3 |
| Male full-time workers | 502.6 | 550.0 | 525.0 |
| Female full-time workers | 432.0 | 423.7 | 412.7 |
Hourly pay:
| Stevenage (pounds) | East (pounds) | Great Britain (pounds) | |
| Full-time workers | 12.28 | 12.44 | 12.01 |
| Male full-time workers | 13.51 | 13.27 | 12.72 |
| Female full-time workers | 11.44 | 11.26 | 10.96 |
Source: ONS annual survey of hours and earnings - resident analysis.
Training and Recruitment Initiatives
Train to Gain
Train to Gain is the Government`s flagship skills service, providing advice, support and funding to employers of all sizes and in all sectors, in England. It puts buying power and information in their hands, giving them better access to a wider range of opportunities for improving the skills of their employees, and the productivity of their business. It helps businesses to meet the challenges they are facing now, and the strategic skills needs they will face in the future. Its coverage includes National Vocational Qualifications, apprenticeships, leadership and management training, basic skills and sector-specific skills. All employers in England are eligible for the core Train to Gain offer, which includes full funding for Skills for Life and first level 2 qualifications. SMEs will be top priority for Train to Gain funds, including the £350m growth over the next two years.
Other
North Hertfordshire College`s brand new vocational training facility, based in Stevenage, opened in September 2008. The Stevenage Skills Centre is the first of its kind in the area and will provide construction, technology and engineering training in a purpose-built facility. It offers a wide range of full and part-time courses in motor vehicle trades, construction trades, including plastering and brickwork; apprenticeships and new diplomas in construction and engineering, and it will also teach an exciting new full-time aeronautical engineering course, running in partnership with Ryanair. The centre has attracted over 500 learners in the last year, and numerous larger companies including Ryanair and MBDA are looking to the centre to provide improved training facilities for apprentices and adults within the engineering industries.
Demand for courses at the centre has been high and the college is already in negotiation to create a much larger Technology Centre in Stevenage by 2014.
