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Skills Strategy Seminar Series
The Series
In November 2010, the Government published its skills strategy, Skills for Sustainable Growth. The strategy provides an outline of the government's programme of reforms to the further education and skills sector over the course of this Parliament.
The Parliamentary Skills Group and National Skills Forum are holding a seminar series to explore the implications of the strategy on the education and skills sector and the business community.
Each seminar will focus on a specific element of the strategy. Reports from each seminar will be posted on this page.
Seminar 1: Professionalising the Workforce - Licence to Practise
4th May 2011
Licence to practise is very much on the political agenda. The strategy supports the introduction of professional standards in appropriate sectors as a means of increasing skill levels and boosting consumer confidence. A Growth and Innovation Fund of up to £50 million has been established to pump-prime employer-led initiatives to raise skills, including occupational licensing.
Panel:
- John Hayes MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning
- Adrian Bailey MP, Chair, BIS Select Committee
- John Forth, Research Fellow, NIESR
- Jack Ward, City and Guilds
Read the report
Seminar 2: Skills and Welfare Reform
17th May 2011
This seminar examined the the skills dimension of the government's welfare reforms. Elements considered included skills conditionality, quality of training, job sustainabilty and progression.
Panel:
- Adam Sharples, Director General (Employment), DWP
- Lord Jim Knight, Opposition Spokesperson for Work and Pensions
- Dr Jo Casebourne, Director of Research, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion
Read the report
Seminar 3: the Future of Further Education
15th June 2011
Reform of the FE sector is a major strand of the skills strategy, which envisages a sector with greater freedoms and greater responsibilities. The changes will see the sector taking more responsibility for its performance, as well as playing a greater role in collaborating to ensure skills provision matches economic development priorities. Colleges will also face greater competition for learners from groups such as employer organisations and independent training providers. The seminar sought to explore the implications of these changes on learners, further education colleges and communities.
Panel:
- Rob Wye, Chief Executive, Learning and Skills Improvement Service
- Neil Sherlock, Public Affairs Partner, KPMG; Advisor to Nick Clegg MP
- Professor Ken Spours, Co-Director of the Centre for Post-14 Research and Innovation, Institute for Education
Read the report
In November 2010, the Government published its skills strategy, Skills for Sustainable Growth. The strategy provides an outline of the government's programme of reforms to the further education and skills sector over the course of this Parliament.
The Parliamentary Skills Group and National Skills Forum are holding a seminar series to explore the implications of the strategy on the education and skills sector and the business community.
Each seminar will focus on a specific element of the strategy. Reports from each seminar will be posted on this page.
Seminar 1: Professionalising the Workforce - Licence to Practise
4th May 2011
Licence to practise is very much on the political agenda. The strategy supports the introduction of professional standards in appropriate sectors as a means of increasing skill levels and boosting consumer confidence. A Growth and Innovation Fund of up to £50 million has been established to pump-prime employer-led initiatives to raise skills, including occupational licensing.
Panel:
- John Hayes MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning
- Adrian Bailey MP, Chair, BIS Select Committee
- John Forth, Research Fellow, NIESR
- Jack Ward, City and Guilds
Read the report
Seminar 2: Skills and Welfare Reform
17th May 2011
This seminar examined the the skills dimension of the government's welfare reforms. Elements considered included skills conditionality, quality of training, job sustainabilty and progression.
Panel:
- Adam Sharples, Director General (Employment), DWP
- Lord Jim Knight, Opposition Spokesperson for Work and Pensions
- Dr Jo Casebourne, Director of Research, Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion
Read the report
Seminar 3: the Future of Further Education
15th June 2011
Reform of the FE sector is a major strand of the skills strategy, which envisages a sector with greater freedoms and greater responsibilities. The changes will see the sector taking more responsibility for its performance, as well as playing a greater role in collaborating to ensure skills provision matches economic development priorities. Colleges will also face greater competition for learners from groups such as employer organisations and independent training providers. The seminar sought to explore the implications of these changes on learners, further education colleges and communities.
Panel:
- Rob Wye, Chief Executive, Learning and Skills Improvement Service
- Neil Sherlock, Public Affairs Partner, KPMG; Advisor to Nick Clegg MP
- Professor Ken Spours, Co-Director of the Centre for Post-14 Research and Innovation, Institute for Education
Read the report
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