Nexnet

Jack Matthews, chief executive of Improve, said: “Everyone knew there would be pain in this Budget. But I agree that this is a Budget which rewards work and encourages enterprise. What I see is the government handing down a challenge to all of us, collectively and individually, to get the economy moving again in the way we work.

 

“One thing the coalition clearly believes in is the value of investment in skills in order to make the economy more productive and prosperous. Despite all the cuts, it has committed £3.5 billion this year to the Skills Funding Agency to support training places, of which £550 million will be used directly to fund Apprenticeships and a further £757 million to fund other forms of work-based learning.

 

“I welcome the government’s commitment to promote greater employer engagement in skills and to prioritise vocational and work-based qualifications which employers themselves value. I have long argued from my own experience in industry that employers are the only people who know how to make training work for their business, and that their input is therefore indispensible when you are looking to drive innovation, leadership and sustainable, efficient working through skills.

 

“As such, I agree with the principle behind joint investment in skills between the public and private sector. I think employers have always been prepared to put money into workforce development where they can be confident of getting returns on business performance. The sector skills councils have a crucial role here both in ensuring employers’ voices are heard and in selling the benefits of skills and training.”

 

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.