Pledge to improve skills of thousands of South Londoners

Three Local Authorities in South London sign Skills Pledge

30 January 2008

On 29 January three Local Authorities in South London have pledged to invest in training their staff today at an event attended by Skills Minister David Lammy and Learning and Skills Council Area Director, Vic Grimes.

Representatives from the three local authorities signed the Skills Pledge, a voluntary, public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills. The purpose is to ensure that all staff are fully trained and able to make a full contribution to the success of the organisation.

The event, which took place at Millbank Tower in London, saw representatives of the local authorities in Croydon, Kingston and Merton commit to support all their employees to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills and work towards a full Level 2 qualification equivalent to five GCSEs A* to C. The event was also attended by Sutton Council, who were one of the first local authorities to sign up to the Skills Pledge in June 2007.

In addition, a joint working agreement between the local authorities and the LSC was formally launched. The agreement, which was initiated in September 2007, sees the appointment of a Train to Gain Account Manager to each of the Local Authorities. The Account Manager is currently working with the Human Resources and Learning Development departments at the Local authority to identify skills needs within the organisation and to source training solutions.

In order to make the planning and delivery more manageable the programme is being piloted in selected departments, ranging from schools to waste management, before being rolled out across the organisation. A steering group has been formed to give the Local Authorities the opportunity to share best practise in delivering the Skills Pledge across their organisations.

Skills Minister David Lammy said:

It is crucial that government and employers join forces to provide people with the skills needed to improve their future job prospects and make sure that London remains a world class economic leader. That is why I am pleased to see that three of the local authorities in South London are making the pledge today and leading the way.

Vic Grimes, LSC Area Director for London South said:

As the demand for unskilled jobs continues to decrease it is crucial that the government and employers ensure that people receive the skills training they need to be able to compete for jobs in the future. As some of the largest employers in London, local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that their staff are equipped with the skills they need to become more productive, making the organisation more effective now and in the future.

Will Tuckley, Deputy Chief Executive, Croydon Council, said:

Our employees are the council's most important resource and we have always put great emphasis on learning and development. By working alongside the LSC we will continue to support our employees to achieve their ambitions and empower them to provide excellent services to the people residents of Croydon so we increase residents' satisfaction with the council.

Bruce McDonald, Chief Executive, Kingston Council, said:

Kingston Council is pleased to be part of an initiative that provides staff with the opportunity to develop their basic skills at a pace that suits them.

All employers have a duty to provide their staff with the opportunity and support they need to develop their personal and professional skills. Kingston Council is working closely with the Learning and Skills Council to identify and address training needs that fall within Train to Gain funding, in Housing, Schools and Environmental Services. Signs so far are extremely positive.

Ged Curran, Chief Executive, London Borough of Merton said:

Merton are delighted to sign the Learning and Skills Council Skills Pledge. We know how vital it is for our staff to develop to their full potential and we want to do everything we can to ensure we are supporting that. Merton is always trying to be fitter, faster and more focused as an organisation to enable the best value and service for our residents and so this programme is just another step in the right direction.

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Notes to Editors