by Neil Murphy, CEO of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce.

THERE has never been a better time to live and work in Somerset!

A controversial statement to some, but something I wholeheartedly believe.

I have spent a highly productive month meeting with a variety of Somerset Chamber members and other local business people, and confidence is higher now than at any time in the past six years.

Our forecasts for the local economy are comfortingly in line with those of the Chancellor’s national forecasts when he announced his budget in early July, and we can look forward to 2.5% per annum growth in the coming years.

We already have evidence of Somerset businesses investing in their futures, and the announcement that investment allowances will be permanently set at £200,000 will be welcomed by business owners across the county.

Of course a growing economy also brings with it challenges, and none bigger than having the right number of people with the right skills to deliver that growth.

In recognition of a long term decline in working age people, the Somerset Chamber recently launched our ‘Bridging the Gap’ initiative to raise the profile of this widening problem and help provide a solution. In a spirited event at Taunton Rugby Club, we opened the floor to views and ideas on how we can bring together local businesses with local education providers to meet the challenge of retaining our young talent, providing them with fulfilling career opportunities and alternatives to a university education.

Twenty years ago the government announced that every student is ‘entitled’ to a university education, and now 20 years later that prophecy has become a reality.

Let me be clear – there is nothing wrong with that picture.

However, for Somerset, going to university invariably means leaving the county, and that usually means that our talent is lost for the foreseeable future.

Our intention is therefore to provide a credible alternative to that aspiration.

For too long now, work based training has been neglected and the result is that we do not have enough ‘work ready’ talent to fuel our thriving local economy, and we run the risk of losing some of the unique opportunities Somerset has in front of it to a flood of imported labour.

Apprenticeships, in all disciplines and not just the traditional trades, can provide young people with that alternative.

The ability to earn while you learn and achieve the same degree that you would otherwise get from a university, without the associated debt, has to be an option.

There are first class opportunities locally in a number of professions including accountancy, law and business, and the Somerset Chamber can help to signpost people to the right places.

We have some of the best schools and colleges in the country here on our doorstep, with mentors from business queueing up to help.

To find out more or get involved with ‘Bridging the Gap’, visit the Somerset Chamber website: www.somerset-chamber.co.uk