The role of SSCs
The Leitch ambitions
On 5 December 2006 the Leitch Review of Skills, 'Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills', was published. The Review showed that to compete in the changing global economy, there is an urgent need for the UK to raise achievements at all levels of skills. It recommended radical change across the whole skills spectrum. With the exception of the creation of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, these changes apply mainly to England.
- Increasing skill attainments at all levels.
- Routing public funding of vocational skills through Train to Gain and Learner Accounts.
- Strengthening the employer voice on skills through creation of a new UK Commission for Employment & Skills, increasing employer engagement and investment in skills, reforming Sector Skills Councils, including to simplify and approve vocational training.
- Launching the Skills Pledge for employers to voluntarily train more employees at work, recommending that if insufficient progress is made by 2010, a statutory right for employees to access workplace training should be introduced.
- Increasing employer investment in training in the workplace and higher level qualifications, especially in Apprenticeships and at degree and postgraduate levels.
- Raising people's aspirations and awareness of the value of skills, creating a new universal adult careers service to diagnose skill needs with a skills health check available for all.
- Government to introduce compulsory education or workplace training up to age 18 following introduction of new Diplomas and expanded Apprenticeship route.
- Integrating the public employment & skills services to deliver sustainable employment, enabling more disadvantaged people to gain skills and find work, developing employer-led Employment and Skills Boards.
The responses differ:
In England:
On 18 July 2007, the government in England announced its plan to implement Lord Leitch's radical changes, in 'World Class Skills: Implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in England.'.
On 12 June 2008, in 'Work Skills' (PDF), the government set out the next steps, demonstrating how the welfare and skills systems are being integrated to give people the best chances to get into and on in work.
In Scotland:
Scotland published it Skills Strategy, 'Skills for Scotland', in September 2007. The Strategy sets out the objectives for all stakeholders in Scotland to work together to develop a cohesive lifelong learning system centred on the individual but responsive to employer needs.
The role of SSCs in Scotland is set out in 'Skills for Scotland' and includes:
- Proper engagement with employers in their sector in order that they can speak with legitimacy on their behalf;
- Delivering sectoral Labour Market Information that is trusted, well used and fits with the robust national information supplied by Futureskills Scotland;
- Ensuring that employers have a say in the design and development of learning at all levels and in all settings, not just in vocational qualifications; and
- Developing strong partnerships with other key players in their sector as well as with Government, providers and intermediary bodies.
The Skills for Business Network in Scotland is already working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (Scotland's national awarding body) to formalise the role of SSCs in the process of developing qualifications awarded by SQA.
In Northern Ireland:
Northern Ireland has had its own Skills Strategy in place since 2004 and the thrust of the Leitch Review aspirations is broadly consistent with it.
There will be a review of the Northern Ireland Skills Strategy carried out during 2008. This review will allow consideration of the Skills Strategy delivery and impact to date, specify the future context for skills in Northern Ireland taking into account how the rest of the UK and the island of Ireland address skills issues.
Although the Leitch Review was UK wide, many of its recommendations do not apply to Northern Ireland where both skills and employment are transferred matters. For more information see the Department for Employment and Learning website.
In Wales:
On 15 July, the Welsh Assembly Government published 'Skills That Work for Wales: A skills and employment strategy and action plan', following consultation between January and April 2008.
The strategy addresses the challenges presented by the Leitch and Webb reports and sets out a reform agenda for education and training at all levels, with the aim of achieving full employment in Wales and helping sustain economic growth. Four key proposals drive the agenda:
- New approaches to funding, including a contributions policy that will focus public funding where it can make the greatest impact and reflect the principle of shared responsibility for improving skills.
- More demand-responsive skills and business support, with a stronger role for Sector Skills Councils, reformed vocational qualifications and joined-up services for business.
- Integrated skills and employment services offering flexible and comprehensive support for people outside the labour market, delivered through partnership between the Assembly Government and Department of Work and Pensions.
- Reconfiguration to create a learning network with the capacity, scale and quality to deliver the skills of the future.