Nexnet

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils Scotland (TASSC Scotland) has been set up to represent the interests of employers in the implementation of the Scottish Government’s Skills for Scotland strategy, which aims to boost the country’s economy by improving the skills of its workforce.

 

The Alliance will act as the collective voice of the 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) set up to work with employers on skills development in each of the country’s commercial and industrial sectors. It has partner organisations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and will take over some of the responsibilities of the UK government-run Sector Skills Development Agency, which was disbanded in March.

 

Jack Matthews, the newly appointed chair of the Alliance in Scotland and chief executive of Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, said: “This is a real opportunity for employers to take the lead in setting the skills agenda in Scotland. This is the first time employers have had a service dedicated to Scotland which is able to draw together views and experiences from right across the business community and deliver a single, unified vision of how education and training can boost our economy.

 

“The Scottish Government in its strategy document ‘Skills for Scotland’ has committed itself to raising the level of skills in the workforce through reform of education and training, because it knows that talented, ambitious, highly skilled people will keep this country punching well above its weight in the global market. But employers’ insights are vital to getting the strategy right. The Alliance will work to make sure businesses have the right level of influence on what gets taught in schools, so young people are well-prepared for the world of work. We will make sure qualifications deliver skills that are of real use in the work place, and we will work hard to foster strong links between industry, education establishments and policy makers so that all interested parties reap the benefits of working together to deliver the skills agenda for Scotland.”

 

TASSC Scotland will be run by an executive team based in Edinburgh and a Council made up of each of the individual SSCs and senior representatives from Skills Development Scotland, the Scottish Qualification Authority, the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government.

 

The Alliance’s work will fall under four broad areas relating to the priorities set out for individual SSCs in the Skills for Scotland strategy: increasing employer engagement with the skills agenda, coordinating Labour Market Information across all business sectors, ensuring qualifications are designed to meet the demands of the work place, and establishing and maintaining strong partnerships across all interested parties. Key areas will cover the expansion of the Modern Apprenticeship programme, including the introduction of Level 2 frameworks, expanding on-line and distance learning opportunities through Learndirect Scotland, and implementing ‘training intervention’ plans for each sector.

 

 

Ends

 

Improve is one of 25 sector skills councils established by the government to take the lead in driving up skills in the workplace in order to promote higher productivity and stronger competitiveness for UK businesses in the global market. Funded primarily by the government, sector skills councils are also supported by employers in their sectors, whose needs they represent when stimulating change among the providers of education and skills. Sector skills councils work closely with employers to promote greater commitment to improving skills in their workforces, and with schools, colleges, universities, and private training organisations to improve the provision of basic skills training and to make vocational and occupational training more relevant to the modern commercial climate.

 

Issued on behalf of Improve, the food and drink sector skills council, www.improveltd.co.uk, by Nexnet PR, Leeds, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Nexnet on 0113 247 0029 or email katrina.gill@nexnet.co.uk or paul.newham@nexnet.co.uk.