The skills team research a wide range of skills, employment and labour market issues which are key to driving up productivity and tackling social and economic exclusion.
Our work supports the Regional Skills Partnership, which defines the major skills challenges in the West Midlands and informs planning and funding decisions, targeting effort where it will have the greatest impact. Our work is overseen and supported by the Regional Skills Partnership Data Group.
Read more about our work in our skills research pages.
Meet the team
Andy Phillips 
Head of Skills Research
Email andy.phillips@wmro.org
Tel 0121 202 3251
Andy leads the skills research team. He has 20 years' experience in economic, labour market and skills research and policy, mostly in a West Midlands context. He has previously worked for a range of local authorities, a regional investment agency, a private sector consultant, a Training and Enterprise Council, the Learning and Skills Council and a Sector Skills Council.
Rajdeep Kaur 
Research Analyst
Email rajdeep.kaur@wmro.org
Tel 0121 202 3248
Key contact for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Rajdeep's role involves analysing and interpreting data, and identifying skills-related research for the West Midlands. Before joining the Observatory she worked for Birmingham City Council's Education and Social Care & Health Departments. Rajdeep has a BA (Hons) in Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Warwick.
Clare Rapkins 
Research Analyst
Email clare.rapkins@wmro.org
Tel 0121 202 3282
Key contact for Sandwell and Dudley.
Clare contributes commentary and analysis of data resources, and identifies skills-related research on the West Midlands. Before joining the Observatory, Clare worked at the National Audit Office and the Department of Health as a statistician. She has a degree in Business Decision Analysis from the University of the West of England in Bristol.