4 Key Principles of the esp

All the work of the esp is underpinned by four key principles.  These are:

Employer Engagement  

Engaging employers is crucial to our success.  We want to offer a simple, intelligent and accessible service to all businesses in the region.  To do this we must create an environment where customers are referred to the most appropriate source of information, support or advice, regardless of the initial point of contact - the ‘No Wrong Door’ approach.

Businesses will be able to choose the support services they need.  We will guarantee the quality of these services and use customer feedback to ensure that what is on offer continues to meet customer needs.

Listening to Customers

The esp Partnership has four main customer groups:

• Large employers

• Small and medium employers, and microbusinesses

• Individuals

• Communities

A ‘No Wrong Door’ service will be provided to all these customers.  We will ensure that all members of the esp speak and act for the Partnership as a whole and that information flows to and from customers in a consistent manner.

We will identify the most effective way to let customers know that we want to hear their views and create ways of making this happen. Representatives of the four customer groups will oversee the process and meet with us to review and agree changes.

Priority Sectors

We need to target our resources effectively and so have identified the sectors that are the most significant in terms of employment, skills and productivity in the region. 

A sector approach will be used sensitively so as not to exclude successful and growing businesses in any sector.

The priority sectors are:

• High Performance Engineering and Manufacturing

• Health and Social Care

• Medical, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology

• Clothing and Textiles

• Food and Drink Manufacture

• Creative Industries

• Construction

• Retail

• Logistics and Distribution

• Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality

• Environmental Technologies

These sectors will be reviewed at regular intervals to take account of labour market changes.

Diversity and equality