What Are Next Gen Sector Partnerships?
“The sector partnership approach is the most productive way to align the assets in your community toward a common goal and common business solutions. You will not get this working one-on-one with individual companies. The people at the table are the industry leaders and they best know their opportunities for growth, whether it is a workforce issue or a regulatory issue or an operational issue. They are the best ones to sit and discuss it. ”
Next Generation Sector Partnerships are partnerships of businesses, from the same industry and in a shared labor market region, who work with education, workforce development, economic development and community organizations to address the workforce and other competitiveness needs of the targeted industry.
Next Gen Sector Partnerships Are…
Industry-Driven. Business leaders come together to define a shared agenda based on the priorities that most impact the vitality and competitiveness of their industry—not the agenda of public programs. In a Next Gen Partnership, business leaders also drive the action. They personally champion priorities, volunteering on task teams to push for outcomes and results.
Community-Supported. Next Gen Sector Partnerships rely on a coordinated team of support partners including workforce development, economic development and education who work together to respond to industry needs. The partnership acts as a "shared table" for business leaders to collaborate with a range of public partners and for public partners to work together to align programs to industry needs.
Sustainable over time. Since Next Gen Sector Partnerships are organized around the topic that interests business leaders most--what it takes to ensure that their company thrives--they are sustainable over time.
Active across the country. Next Gen Sector Partnerships are active all over the country, from major metro to rural areas. They operate in industries ranging from manufacturing, health care, technology, transportation and logistics, food and agriculture and more. While no two partnerships are exactly alike, they share a common set of distinguishing characteristics and are developed through the disciplined process outlined in the Next Gen Sector Partnership toolkit.
““This is fundamentally a new way for business, education, and government to work together for the betterment of everybody. There are few opportunities to have an impact on something bigger than yourself and, for me personally, the sector partnership model is one of those if not the one.””
Photo Credit: Pam Lindley, City of Phoenix
At-Scale Results
Where states have adopted strategies that help create strong, local sector partnerships, results are magnified. In Colorado:
businesses
82% of partnerships have businesses that have developed new or enhanced ideas for new products and/or markets
91% of partnerships have businesses that have found support in finding employees with the skills and experiences their business needs
Students and jobseeker
71% of partnerships increased student/jobseeker awareness of training/education programs.
62% of partnerships experienced increased program alignment across secondary, post-secondary, and/or workforce programming.
67% of partnerships enhanced existing or developed new training/education program(s).
Over 20 sector partnerships spanning all 14 economic development regions of the state.
Testimonials
We created a unified business voice that didn’t exist before, and it’s grassroots and grounded in this place. It shifts relationships and old power dynamics; it’s contagious and can transform how this community interacts.
“We created a unified business voice that didn’t exist before, and it’s grassroots and grounded in this place. It shifts relationships and old power dynamics; it’s contagious and can transform how this community interacts.”
“We believe we can address anything the manufacturing community wants to address—we have a voice, we have some concrete wins, and we have the buy-in of the greater community. We have created this buzz because we get things done! Everybody – both private and public sector— is doing their piece.”
“The Northern Colorado Healthcare sector partnership has been the single place that I can come together with my competitors and solve common problems.”
“The difference is output and achievement. In many business boards, groups, steering committees, there are many great ideas, but less than desired output or successes. This model allows for true “Working Groups” to collaborate, drive and achieve in a shorter period of time, to meet the needs of business and industry. This model enforces the premise of Industry leading, rather than asking and waiting. We set the goals, tasks and initiatives, so we as business and industry own the outcomes.”
“I think a lot of people had the will and it was about getting the people together to find the way. We did that, and now industry leaders like me know where to plug in.”
“This process is a game-changer. If you follow the script, it allows public and private partners alike to give up their perceived power and move into the all-in moment. Now we can’t stop the momentum.”
“Industry wants to impact education, they want to impact workforce. This gives them that voice to do it”
“Workforce Boards are not THE experts. Our role is one of convener and bridge. We bring together the experts and empower them to do what they do best.”