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Skills Pledge - Training World Class Staff to Build World Class Businesses
Regional Minister Ian Austin MP has announced a new strategy to help local employers train the staff of tomorrow. Organisations of all sizes are being asked to sign up to the Skills Pledge, voluntary public commitment by an organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills. To assist them, the Skills Agenda for Herefordshire and Worcestershire allows employers to access expert advice and financial support for training under the national Train to Gain initiative.
Speaking at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber in Malvern, Ian Austin said: “The Skills Agenda is a fantastic opportunity for the whole region. But there’s a challenge behind it as well because the economy is changing faster than ever before and the twenty-first century economy will demand ever-higher skills from workforces.
“I want our region to lead the way in developing the new technologies and creating the new highly-skilled and well-paid jobs on which our prosperity will depend in the future but the only way we will be able to attract and develop the high-tech innovative businesses we’ll need is if we equip the workforce with the skills they’re looking for.
“Employers here know that, and the commitment we’ve seen is amazing. In 2005, the West Midlands had the lowest proportion of employers investing in training in the country. By 2007, that position had changed to fourth highest.
“By making the Skills Pledge, employers are showing their determination to keep up that momentum. We’re matching that determination with support for flexible, employer-led training. The Skills Agenda gives us the framework we need to resume our rightful place as Britain’s best place to do business.”
Local employers met the Minister, along with West Midlands Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Regional Director David Cragg at the Abbey Hotel, Malvern.
Mike Ashton, Chief Executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “As employers, we share a responsibility to give our employees opportunities to gain the skills that will help them fulfil their potential as individuals. That investment will deliver growth in our businesses and underlying strength in the economy.
“As a Chamber of Commerce we are happy to have such a strong relationship with the Learning and Skills Council to ensure that our businesses receive this support.”
David Cragg, Regional Director of the LSC in the West Midlands, said: “We have learnt a tremendous amount in working to meet the challenges presented by changes to the regional economy in recent years – in particular, how to create skills delivery systems with the flexibility to respond quickly as the need arises.
“The Chamber has a critical role to play in reaching out to small- and medium-sized businesses and representing their views and we greatly value that partnership.
“A lot of hard work has gone into creating a new, integrated skills offer led by the needs of employers. The challenging economic situation is putting these delivery structures to the test, particularly their ability to respond quickly to changing circumstances.”
