Nexnet

Improve’s operations and marketing teams are being merged with the National Skills Academy management team to create a single employer-facing arm responsible for training delivery, engagement and communications.

 

The new team, which will be based at Improve’s headquarters in York, will be headed by Justine Fosh, who moves up from Director of the Academy to the new role of Director of Skills Solutions for Improve and the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing.

 

Justine says the reorganisation will result in a more streamlined, flexible service for employers offering a broader range of skills and training solutions.

 

“Our aim has always been to help employers access training and skills which deliver real benefits to their business,” said Justine. “What we have now is a single team providing an integrated service to employers, able to discuss and identify their skills needs, and deliver the appropriate training solutions.

 

“This will streamline the consultancy and advisory services we offer directly with through our UK-wide Academy training provider network. Employers will be able to access information, advice and solutions on training all from the same source, which will improve speed and efficiency and potentially cut costs. It will also result in employers working directly with the people delivering training, ensuring skills development is tailored to meet their specific needs and creating new commercial opportunities for the providers themselves.”

 

Jack Mathews, chief executive of Improve, described the reorganisation as a proactive move in the face of a changing skills landscape. “Businesses are facing the challenge of wanting to drive up skills while still having to drive down costs. They are demanding training which is cost effective, easy to access and, perhaps most importantly, aimed specifically at fulfilling their business needs. Our challenge has been to look at how we can deliver this in the most effective and efficient way possible.

 

“Improve and the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing will still operate under separate brands, but their operations will be much more closely aligned under the same business structure. There will be a single board of directors for both organisations to guide and ensure focus on meeting employers’ skills needs through this integration of our operations. Improve’s other functions as the strategic skills body for the food and drink industry, including qualifications development and research, will continue as before.”

 

As part of the restructure, Improve’s national operations managers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also take on new roles and job titles as National Development Managers working within the skills solutions team. “This will reflect an expansion in their roles,” said Jack. “As well as overseeing operations in the devolved nations, they will also take on a more strategic role working with training providers and other skills bodies to develop and implement skills plans suited to the needs of their respective countries. This will involve an enhanced role working with the devolved governments to ensure we are able to deliver on our objectives within the broader skills policies of each country.”

 

For further information, go to www.improve-skills.co.uk.

 

Ends

 

Improve is part of the network of 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 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 paul.newham@nexnet.co.uk or joanne.mead@nexnet.co.uk.