The Observatory's Skills Team carries out research on a wide range of skills, employment and labour market issues which, as highlighted in the West Midlands Economic Strategy, are key to driving up productivity and tackling social and economic exclusion.
Our work supports the Regional Skills Partnership, which was established to lead the skills agenda in the West Midlands. The Regional Skills Partnership 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.
Our work programme
Our work has three key strands:
Reviewing the changing needs of the labour market, which involves the interrogation of published and other secondary sources of intelligence, together with findings from gap filling research commissioned by the Data Group and partners. Key products include:
Evaluating the impact of the Regional Skills Partnership, via a framework of regional skills performance indicators and a summary skills index. We update the indicator set each year and produce an annual review of performance. We're also involved in on-going dialogue with key partners to expand and improve the framework.
Addressing gaps in the regional skills evidence base identified as a priority by partners. Recent projects include research on:
Meet the Skills Team
Andy Phillips 
Head of Skills Research
Emailandy.phillips@wmro.org
Tel 0121 202 3251
Andy leads the Skills 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
Emailrajdeep.kaur@wmro.org
Tel 0121 202 3248
Key contact for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
Rajdeep contributes to the data and intelligence work of the Regional Skills Partnership as part of the Observatory's Skills team. Her role involves analysing and interpreting data, and the indentification of skills-related research for the West Midlands. Prior to joining the Observatory Rajdeep 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
Emailclare.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. Prior to joining the Observatory, Clare worked at the National Audit Office and the Department of Health as a statistician. Clare has a degree in Business Decision Analysis from the University of the West of England in Bristol.
Irina Petre
Research Assistant
Emailirina.petre@wmro.org
Tel 0121 202 3254
Irina contributes to sourcing, assembling and analysing datasets, identifying skills-related information and research at both regional and national levels. Before joining the Observatory Irina worked as a compliance and internal audit assistant with Clares Accessories and as an online market research project manager for IPSOS Interactive Services Europe. Irina has a MSc in Enterprise, Environment and Place from the University of Birmingham and a BA in Economic Sciences from the Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest.