Solent Freeport on the hunt for business leaders to help shape project

The Solent Freeport is seeking business leaders for one of three voluntary positions of Chair of a Solent Freeport Skills Forum.

The Freeport, which was named one of the first in the UK by the government last month, is looking for people with senior and strategic experience who will be charged with driving the regeneration and levelling up the Solent region.

Skills forums will be established at the Freeports three tax sites: Southampton Water, Navigator Quarter and Dunsbury Park, which will aim to develop skills in local people so they can access the economic opportunities unlocked through the Freeport investment.

Each of these will consist of businesses, landowners, skills providers, local authorities and government agencies, who will collaborate to develop the Solent Freeport Skills Charter and give input on the skills and investment needed.

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Brian Johnson, Chair of the Solent Freeport said: "A Freeport in our region is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to level up our important coastal communities and create a significant number of high-quality jobs for local people.

“We want to ensure our communities fully benefit from the Solent Freeport, and that local people have the skills they need to take full advantage of new employment opportunities - providing the Solent Freeport with a skilled workforce for future success, and one which can support the pioneering new technology and innovation the Freeport will deliver to transform our region."

Applications for the three voluntary positions of Skills Forum Chair for each of the Solent Freeport tax sites are welcomed from those currently working in the private sector, with more information available here.

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Featured image credit: Carswell Gould/Solent Freeport