Employer ownership of skills
Dated: 14/12/2011

The UKCES has launched a paper - 'Employer ownership of skills:securing a sustainable partnership for the long term' outlining the Commission's high level vision for what employer ownership of skills means and how it can transform the skills landscape

The UKCES has launched a paper - 'Employer ownership of skills:securing a sustainable partnership for the long term' outlining the Commission's high level vision for what employer ownership of skills means and how it can transform the skills landscape. There is also a call to action to employers to come forward with their own bold propositions for how to step up and take responsibility for Apprenticeships for example.

The paper identifies 5 key principles for reform:

1. Employers should have the space to own the skills agenda

2. There should be a single market for skills development

3. Skills solutions should be designed by employer-led partnerships

4. Public contributions for vocational training should move to employer incentives and investments

5.Transactions should be transparent

The paper was launched in London this morning. Business Secretary Vince Cable and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander both made speeches; these are not yet available online.

In addition, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is urging employers to develop high quality bids for the £250m pledged by the Prime Minster to fund employer-led training programmes.

Katerina Rüdiger, Skills Adviser at the CIPD, said: "There is a perception amongst some employers today that the UK's training system does not always provide the skills the labour market needs. There's no doubt that a greater employer involvement in the skills system will help to increase the relevance and quality of the training delivered, which is why we welcome the UKCES' proposal for greater employer ownership of the skills system and greater transparency of funding for skills development activities.

" Placing the employer at the heart of this means that they will have a collective responsibility to get this right, as there will be no more excuses to hide behind. This is a chance for employers to take a more long-term approach to workforce planning and to be pro-active in growing their own workforce. The Prime Minister has already pledged to invest up to £250 million in a pilot of innovative employer-led training programmes: now it's up to employers to develop high quality bids to engage with this funding so that the benefits can be reaped and the pilot can pave the way for a more comprehensive employer-led overhaul of the funding of the skills system."