Skillstories

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Toyota make the Skills Pledge

Secretary of State for Innovation, John Denham, has welcomed a skills pledge by Toyota to provide training opportunities for 4,700 employees at its UK manufacturing plants.

Approximately 1,500 production line workers across sites in Derbyshire and North Wales will be given the opportunity to achieve NVQ level 2 in Business Improvement Techniques. The qualification is supported by sector skills council, Semta’s Compact, and is part of Toyota’s ongoing initiative to develop the skills of all production line staff.

Whitbread reconfirm their commitment to the Skills Pledge

Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hotel and restaurant group, has announced today that it is launching a new bespoke training and development programme. Named ‘The Whitbread Apprenticeship Programme’ it is the first and largest employer-led programme of its kind in the hospitality industry.

CEO Alan Parker, who reconfirmed Whitbread’s commitment to the Government Skills Pledge, spearheads the programme. It is Whitbread’s ambition to take the NVQ programme out nationally and to train over 3000 employees by the end of 2009. Employees are able to gain an NVQ in House keeping, Food processing and cooking, Food and Drink service, Front office and Customer service.

Sainsbury’s offers in-store exams

Sainsbury’s staff are to be offered formal qualifications in stock-taking and store working as well as basic maths and literacy skills.

EEDA Welcomes Talent Map Proposals to Simplify Skills Support

Alison Lys, Head of Skills at the East of England Regional Development Agency (EEDA), has welcomed proposals by the Government and UK Commission for Employment and Skills to simplify the skills support for businesses. She particularly welcomed proposals for the creation of a talent map, the introduction of a new training and development plan, and the development on-site support at business parks.

Skills Secretary’s CBI Speech Focuses on Skills Needs in Key Industries

In a speech to the CBI on 24 October, the Skills Secretary, John Denham, identified a number of industries that will be vital for the future prosperity of the UK and will require a more highly skilled workforce. These include biotech, aerospace, pharmaceuticals, nuclear, renewable, energy conservation and hospitality sectors. Mr Denham also announced three new agreements with employers, worth £98 million to deliver bespoke training in key industries.

Denham Approves New National Skills Academies

150,000 young people and adults will get the chance to develop world-class skills as entrepreneurs, IT workers, electrical engineers and social carers as four academies were given the go-ahead today by Skills Secretary John Denham.

New Skills Body for the Third Sector Announced

The Government today announced plans to create a new Third Sector skills body which will identify and address skills gaps and shortages for charities, voluntary groups, social enterprises and other third sector organisations.

Gordon Brown warns of unemployment rise

Gordon Brown warned of increasing unemployment yesterday as he defended plans to increase government borrowing to mitigate the impact of the looming recession.

Prison education scheme ‘failed’

Schemes to improve prisoners’ basic skills and qualifications in English jails have “failed in almost every respect”, an MPs’ committee has said.