The government last week invited a range of organisations to share their ideas on how they would like skills policy to be set out in the future.
The consultation document “Skills for Sustainable Growth” outlines the government’s vision for skills and what are expected to be the key elements of a strategy for delivering it.
The documents invite views on:
- How private investment in skills can be optimised in accordance with benefits and to allow public money to be used most effectively where it is most needed
- Where more limited public investment should be focused and the skills system can be made simpler and more effective
- How support for individuals and employers can be improved to develop skills and learning and meet the needs of the economy
- How businesses can be encouraged to engage in supporting local community learning
- Holding colleges and other training organisations to account for their performance in responding to learners and employers needs and to prioritising training that adds real economic value.
The document also makes a commitment to look at how to improve better employee engagement. It says that this includes the important role of trade unions in supporting investment in skills through initiatives such as Unionlearn, and the future of the ‘right to request time to train’ which, it states rather ominously, “we must consider in the light of our commitment to reduce regulation”.
The government says that the document will inform a strategy on skills which will be published in the autumn after the Spending Review. The strategy will outline the Government’s principles for the skills system and a framework for policy for the next five years.
The closing date for responses to the consultation is October 14.
To access the document, go to: http://www.bis.gov.uk