Ready to Work, Skilled for Work: Unlocking Britain's Talent
28 January 2008
Today, Government published Ready to work, skilled for work: unlocking Britain's talent and Apprenticeships: Unlocking Talent, Building Skills for All. The Government's Strategy for the Future of Apprenticeships in England. These publications describe how Government and employers can work together to unlock Britain's talent and help build a work force that has the world class skills it needs in an increasingly challenging global economy.
Jointly published by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS), and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Ready to work, skilled for work describes the partnership Government wants to forge with employers to meet these challenges.
We want employers to open up their job opportunities to a wider pool of potential employees. We also want employers to increase their investment in the skills of their employees, and to actively engage and lead the reform and renewal of learning and skills in their sectors. In return, employers can expect a central role in driving the changes they need, and unparalleled support from Government to recruit and train their workforce. We also published today the leaflet Unlocking Britain's Talent which gives employers more information on how they can access services to train their staff and get involved with shaping delivery.
The Apprenticeships Review was conducted jointly by DIUS and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), the Cabinet Office and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). The review sets out a wide range of steps to improve and expand the Apprenticeships programme, stretching our existing aspirations.
These two publications build on the commitments we set out in Opportunity, Employment and Progression: making skills work last November. That document focused on the support Government gives to individuals, helping them to develop the skills they need to find sustainable employment and to progress in their career. The partnership with employers we have set in today's publications will play a hugely important role in creating opportunities for everyone - including the most disadvantaged - to rise as far as their talent will take them, change their lives and those of their families.
Delivering our ambitions presents a real challenge to Government, employers, delivery partners and individuals and we must work together if we are to achieve them. We look forward to realising our potential.
