Skillstories

‘It’s Time to Talk Training’ guide launched to promote dialogue on training in the workplace

A new guide, designed to help employers work to improve staff skills and training, has been jointly published by the Department for business, CBI, TUC and Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). The guide, ‘It’s Time to Talk Training’, is intended to inspire UK employers and workers to engage in effective two-way dialogue on training and skills, to assess staff training needs and consider how training can fill an organisation’s skills gap.

Skills secretary to hire an apprentice

The skills secretary John Denham said today he would be the first cabinet minister to take on an apprentice as he announced new measures to make sure all apprenticeships are of equally high quality and have the confidence of apprentices and employers.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/further/story/0,,2291110,00.html

UK will become second division economic power without science and maths skills

A recent report published by the University of Durham will reveal that students may be more likely to choose to study ‘easier’ subjects, and not opt to study science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects that are desperately needed by employers.

Channel 4 launches ‘Can’t Read, Can’t Write’ series of programmes

Today in Britain, over 5 million adults have a reading age of 12 or less or worse cannot read at all. Can't Read Can't Write is a new three-part series on Channel 4, starting on 21st July 2008 at 9.00pm.

Learning and Skills Council launches new drive for ‘It’s in Our Hands’ campaign

Our world is changing – we all need more skills than ever before. Two out of three jobs in the future will require a higher level of skills and better qualifications. In fact, in less than 10 years, there will be very few unskilled jobs. Learning a new skill or gaining a new qualification could be a step in the right direction towards moving up the career ladder at work, earning more money, finding a job, or just simply improving your confidence and self-esteem.

Employers team up to boost skills - West Midlands

A new partnership has seen an employment agency team up with an employer and a college to offer vocational qualifications. Blue Arrow Managed Services’ associates work as flexible employees at BMW’s Hams Hall engine plant in the Midlands. The two companies have teamed up with Sutton Coldfield College to offer new manufacturing qualifications to boost skills.

National Skills Academy for retail gets go-ahead

The Government has given the go-ahead for a National Skills Academy for the UK retail sector.

Government publishes its draft Apprenticeships Bill

New measures to ensure all apprenticeships are of a uniform high quality and have the confidence of both apprentices and employers were announced today by Ministers David Lammy and Jim Knight as the Government published its draft Apprenticeships Bill.

Talent wanted to compete globally

Urging companies to include talent in their corporate responsibility agendas might seem an unnecessary exercise. Few organisations need to be told that their key to success lies in the ability to recruit and retain skilled, experienced employees, and business leaders have long cited people as their “greatest asset”.

Leading companies complain of graduates’ literary skills

More than half of Britain’s leading graduate employers are concerned about a lack of basic skills such as reading and writing among university recruits, according to new research.