1 of 27

How To Launch A Sector Partnership�TA Module 3

Bobbie Wolfe, CWDC

2 of 27

Goals

Getting Started
Regional Diagnostics (Data, Partner Engagement, Industry desire/need)
Learning and Engaging the Next-Gen Model
Dig into the partners, needs, and roles for support
Employer / Industry Engagement - Identifying Champions

2

3 of 27

Since Last Time…

Understanding Data of your industry of focus
Industry Sector Selection: The Readiness Test Worksheet

3

4 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Build a Regional Sector Support Team & Make the Case for a New Approach

Core Partners
Neutral Convener(s)
Network of Supporters

4

5 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 1: Build a Regional Sector Support Team & Make the Case for a New Approach
Guiding Questions:

Do key stakeholders in our region (from education, workforce development, and economic development) recognize how sector partnership(s) can act as the shared table where they can work with businesses from a targeted sector, understand their needs, and collaborate with other public partners to develop responsive/coordinated solutions?
Have we agreed on clear roles and responsibilities on the sector support team?

Who is the lead “convener” or co-conveners?

5

Step 1: Build a Regional Sector Support Team & Make the Case for a New Approach

Core Partners: Select support partners who jointly take responsibility for supporting the partnership. They partner closely with convener(s) to plug in and coordinate responses.
Neutral Convener(s): One to three individuals who convene, provide backbone support, and serve as first responders. Responsible for keeping the partnership on track day-to-day while slowly and selectively bringing in partners
Network of Supporters: Broad network of community partners who are in the loop and “on call” to respond, but Select support partners who jointly take responsibility for supporting the partnership. They partner closely with convener(s) to plug in and coordinate responses. Industry agenda may or may not directly connect with mission of partner organizations.

Guiding Questions:

Do key stakeholders in our region (from education, workforce development, and economic development) recognize how sector partnership(s) can act as the shared table where they can work with businesses from a targeted sector, understand their needs, and collaborate with other public partners to develop responsive/ coordinated solutions?

Have we agreed on clear roles and responsibilities on the sector support team? Who is the lead “convener”, or co-conveners?

6 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 2: Define the Scope of Industry Focus

Pull regional data specific to the industry(ies) of focus
Define the industry/sector

6

7 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 2: Define the Scope of Industry Focus
Guiding Questions:

Has our regional team jointly agreed on which industry sectors merit our collective action in launching a sector partnership?

Did we use LMI data, combined with our on-the-ground knowledge about industries to make these selections? Which sector is first - OR next?

Has our regional team discussed and agreed to the note-too-small, not-too-big geographic footprint for our sector partnership?

***This is a starting point that may shift with industry input.

7

8 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 3: Prepare to Launch

Identify & Recruit Industry Champions
Identify guests and roles for the meeting
Invite Industry
Logistics

8

9 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 3: Prepare to Launch
Guiding Questions:

Have we identified and successfully recruited at least 2 CEOs in our region and target industry who will sign the invite letter and welcome everyone to the Launch?
Have we picked a date, time, and location that will work for everyone?

Ideally: Location will meet at a business facility

Have we collectively created an invite list of C-level leaders of companies in our target sector and region to invite to the Launch?

Did we get the invite out one month in advance, and do appropriate follow-ups?

9

10 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 4: Launch

Host a Launch Meeting

10

11 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 4: Launch
Guiding Questions:

Did we engage a critical mass of business leaders at the launch meeting?
Did the launch meeting result in a set of shared priorities that business leaders feel a sense of ownership over?
Did business leaders commit to specific next steps after the meeting?
Did we make time for non-industry support partners to debrief after listening at the Launch meeting?

Did we balance enthusiasm to jump in with solutions with the need to let industry-led action teams further define needs and early wins in the next 2-4 weeks?

Are we ready for next steps, including sending an executive summary of the meeting out to business members ASAP, and setting up short action team calls?

11

12 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 5: Move to Action; Organize the aftermath and implementation

Organize Action Teams
Schedule and Communicate next steps

12

13 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 5: Move to Action; Organize the aftermath and implementation
Guiding Questions:

Have we established action teams around business’ priorities?

Are action teams made up of businesses, with community partners brought in selectively for support?

Have we identified lead business champions who are taking an active role in transforming ideas into action?
Have we achieved clarity around outcomes and strategies in key areas for action?
Are community partners beginning to to see where they can add value on key priorities?

Is there a mechanism to begin engaging them in action teams?

13

14 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 6: Evolve & Sustain

Ensure industry continues to lead all agendas and action teams
Create a sustainability plan

14

15 of 27

Step-By-Step Guide

Step 6: Evolve & Sustain
Guiding Questions:

Do Key Stakeholders involved understand the enduring value of our sector partnership?
Have we considered what organizational home is right for the partnership that ensures that the partnership continues to be industry-driven and action-oriented?
Have we developed a process for periodically assessing progress, revising priorities, and refreshing our partnership’s agenda?

15

16 of 27

Getting The Scope Just Right

Questions to ask of yourself

Is the Geography right?
Is the Scope of Industry right?
What about employer champions? Overall membership?
Are we expanding beyond our own jurisdictional boundaries?

16

17 of 27

Who is Involved?

Roles

Convener
Facilitator
Industry

Industry Champions / Co-Chairs / Leaders

Non-industry decision members from key public systems that have a role to play in supporting the targeted sector

17

18 of 27

Public Partners

Non-industry decision makers

Education: K-12 (CTE director, superintendent or principal); community college (workforce development director and/or key program administrator); four year university
Workforce development: Workforce Board Director
Economic development: Chamber of Commerce, local economic development organizations

18

19 of 27

Industry

What are their roles?

Stay engaged at all levels; including strategic advising, active sponsorship of solutions/strategies, in-kind and financial contributions to solutions.
Show to up action team meetings & quarterly Partnership meetings
Build the buzz about the Partnership and its action agenda with industry peers

19

20 of 27

Industry Champions / Co-Chairs

What are their roles?

Be willing to champion the idea of creating a forum for collaboration for their industry and in their local area or local region.
Jointly sign a letter of invite that outlines the what, why, and how of launching a Partnership.
Be willing to physically host the launch meeting at a place of business or industry facility.

20

21 of 27

What are public partners roles?

Get on the same page about what this is & what this isn’t, and good process

Including agreeing on lead convener or co-conveners

Collaborate to plan the launch meeting

Defining the scope
Recruiting key industry champions WITH them

Launch invites don’t always have to be from the convener

21

22 of 27

Facilitator

What is their role?

Bring focus to the meeting, and energy
Be completely neutral (no matter what organization they actually work for), clearly stating that today they are just the facilitator to help industry members develop an agenda for stability and growth.
This role does not always need to be the convener!

22

23 of 27

Support / Convening Team

What is their role?

Representing the planning and support team of critical systems in education, workforce development, economic development, labor, community-based organizations.

Listen and make space for industry leaders to define their collective agenda during the launch
Consider how you can apply what you’re hearing to your programs

23

24 of 27

Support / Convening Team

What is their role?

Debrief together (with convener!) after the launch to consider immediate take-aways & opportunities for alignment in systems
Directly engage in action teams / tasks
Always make sure the industry voice remains prominent and the driving force for all action teams/tasks, but be fully responsible for translating & implementing solutions to their own priorities.

24

25 of 27

Convener

What is their role?

Interpret industry priorities and develop responsive solutions as a team.
Broker collaborations across programs to develop customized solutions.
Provide project management support to advance sector partnership priorities, tracking progress, holding partners accountable, and driving toward action and results.
Continually coordinating larger effort.

25

26 of 27

Questions & Reflections

27 of 27

Next Steps

We will dig into industry champions further next time!

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, February 20th: 11am - Noon

27