National Skills Forum summer reception

National Skills Forum Summer Reception

14/07/09

The National Skills Forum and Associate Parliamentary Skills Group's summer reception took place at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, with special guests Kevin Brennan MP, David Willetts MP and Stephen Williams MP.

Speaking at the reception, Kevin Brennan, Minister of State for Further Education and Skills, said: "This is a great opportunity to thank you all and your partners for the vital work that the National Skills Forum does to help raise the profile of skills in the UK."

David Willetts and Stephen Williams also made speeches at the reception and praised the Forum and the Skills Commission for the research they carry out into skills policy.

Gordon Marsden, Chair of the Associate Parliamentary Skills Group, thanked National Skills Forum members and partners for their continued support, and outlined the Group's programme for the next parliamentary year. Already underway are two major pieces of research, exploring skills and inclusion and teacher training in vocational education. Full details of NSF events and seminars for next year will be announced soon.

Other parliamentarians attending the reception were Barry Sheerman MP, chair of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee and Baroness Sharp of Guildford, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for skills in the House of Lords.