Re-skilling for Recovery

Book excerpt: In its report examining the impact of Lord Leitch's 2006 review of skills ("Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills", 2006, ISBN 9780118404860), the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee says the Government must place re-skilling at the heart of its skills policy in order to meet the challenges of recession and redundancies. Re-skilling rather than up-skilling should be the priority as redundancies force people to move to other sectors. Government focus should be on tackling skills shortages and approaching skills as part of wider national economic development planning. The Committee recommends that more flexibility is built into training support to ensure skills development meets current and future demand. The abolition of the Learning and Skills Council and the creation of a new Skills Funding Agency for post-19 training could add to existing confusion about training and skills provision. The system must be simplified and the Government should quickly provide clarity on the roles of the different organisations and ensure the system can be understood by its users. It is essential that the Government's Train to Gain programme is made flexible enough to deal with rapid adjustments for unemployed people who need quick re-training. Aspects of Train to Gain are currently failing to satisfy different demands and unless the programme is radically re-focused one of Leitch's central reform planks will be lost. The sustainability of co-funded higher education courses is a concern and the Committee warns that the current economic downturn may affect the willingness of employers to meet the required level of investment.