Support for skills
Chapter 3 Section 8

3.34 Employers will need support to transform learning in the workplace. Sources of support include:

  • the new National Training Organisations - the employer-led bodies responsible for improving training in their sectors. We have approved requests from industry to establish 37 NTOs between May 1997 and January 1998. A key function of the NTOs will be to promote occupational standards and NVQs to businesses in their sector, driving up participation in learning at work. Over half of our medium-size and larger firms are involved with vocational qualifications, offering them to a total of 3.8 million workers. A recent CBI study showed that NVQs improve both the quality of management and the standards of in-house training;

  • Training and Enterprise Councils: we propose to ask TECs to draw up integrated plans to develop the local workforce. We envisage that these plans will: link with TECs' work on the New Deal and on work-based training for young people and unemployed adults; cover their work with partners to integrate skills and training advice with Business Link support to firms; and be agreed with local authorities, colleges and universities. TECs will also provide feedback to the University for Industry about gaps in provision, skills trends and opportunities for further development;

  • further education colleges whose traditional close links with local employers have been strengthened through work on NVQs and franchised provision on employers' premises; and

  • universities and higher education colleges which increasingly play a major role in supporting local businesses on skills and technology transfer.

On-line Consultation
Q. Are these support mechanisms the right ones to help raise the level and quality of training in the workplace, and how do they fit in with Regional Development Agencies?

Q. Do they have the necessary ‘purchase’ to change culture and attitudes, or are more fundamental changes required?

Q. What should the future role of TECs be in supporting learning at work?

Q. Do NTOs have sufficient leverage to raise the quantity and quality of training in their sectors?

Q. How can we ensure that local partners - including TECs, further and higher education, and local authorities - work together to support enterprises in improving learning?

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