Do you experience challenges recruiting advanced expertise — typically NVQ Level 4 or above, such as degrees, technical qualifications, or specialized expertise—required for roles in management, professional, and technical sectors?

We want to understand more about your higher-level skills needs and challenges!

Complete our short survey and have a chance to WIN a bundle of recent leadership books which offer actionable strategies for building culture, emotional intelligence, and effective management.

Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and the Black Country Chambers of Commerce are working with the West Midlands Combined Authority on the delivery of the West Midlands Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP) 2025, funded by the Department for Education (DfE).

As part of the research process, we want to hear from YOU about your higher-level skills challenges.

By giving us your feedback, we hope to use this information to help inform local provision so it meets your current and future skills needs — and to produce actionable recommendations on how regional stakeholders, educators and employers can work together to close regional skills gaps.

Please note: All responses are confidential and will be reported only in aggregate. Responses will be used solely to inform understanding and planning, not to appraise or penalise any respondent organisation. We will not share your contact information with third parties without your explicit permission.

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* 1. What methods are you currently using to source talent with higher-level skills?

(by higher level skills, we mean degree-level, L4+ NVQ vocational qualifications, technical qualifications, or specialized expertise required for roles in management, professional, and technical sectors)

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* 2. To what extent do universities currently support you to meet your higher-level skills needs

0 (not at all) 10 (very much so)
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i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 3. Can you share any examples of where collaboration with a university which has successfully supported your business, e.g. with higher-level workforce development or innovation?

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* 4. What do you consider to be the most significant higher-level skills challenges facing your organisation/sector over the next 3–5 years?

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* 5. If you could change one thing to improve the region’s skills and talent system to improve your ability to source higher-level skills, what would it be?

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* 6. Would you be willing to participate in a short follow-up session to test potential solutions or pilot approaches?

If yes, please provide your name, organisation and email address below

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* 7. To enter the prize draw to win a bundle of leadership books, please provide your details below.

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