upskill

The Conservative MP for Bromsgrove, Bradley Thomas, told the BBC: "Rob is someone who understands not just the heritage of the West Midlands, but also the economic and social identity of the place. The fact that our economy has got to pivot, that we've got to upskill for the next generation, that we've got to tackle issues including migration. "

Asked if there were any positives to be taken from Tata Steel’s commitment to greener steelmaking in Port Talbot, Mr Samuel said he hoped the electric furnace would give people "the opportunity to retrain and upskill themselves".

The work was led by PhD candidate, Ziad Ibbini, who studied BSc Conservation Biology at the University, before taking a year out to upskill himself in software development, then beginning his PhD.

As mayor, he worked with many businesses as he sought to bring investment into the West Midlands and upskill the region's workforce.

The question communities across the state are facing is how to train and upskill a workforce that was already short-handed before the pandemic.