Skills Secretary John Denham today announced the appointment of two new Commissioners for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills
01 April 2009
Nigel Whitehead, Group Managing Director at BAE Systems programmes and support and James Wates, Deputy Chairman of the construction and development group Wates, joined the Commission on 16 March and 1 April respectively.
Their appointment was welcomed by the UK Commission’s chairman, Sir Mike Rake, who said:
“Nigel and James are both highly experienced businessmen, with a track record of inspirational leadership in large and challenging businesses.
“Nigel is a professional engineer and general manager with a reputation for outstanding communication skills. The programmes and support group he is responsible for at BAE Systems has a turnover of over £5 billion, with over 30,000 employees at more than 60 sites across the UK providing defence equipment to the UK armed forces and into the export markets.
“James is Deputy Chairman of Wates Group, which despite the current economic climate has just posted a record £1 billion turnover. The company is also ranked in Business in the Community’s (BITC) Top 100, meaning it has one of the best corporate social responsibility programmes in the country.
“I am thrilled to welcome them to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, where I know their unique skills and talents will be put to good use as we strive to maximise UK economic competitiveness through world-class employment and skills.”
Skills Secretary John Denham added:
“All Commissioners are leaders in their fields who contribute their expertise and resource to the full range of UK Commission activities. I am delighted that two more very senior and experienced business people are joining the Commission and I look forward to working with them as we work towards our joint vision of a world-class and successful nation, built on sustainable economic growth and providing opportunity for all.”
Ends
Notes to editors
1. About the UK Commission for Employment and Skills
The remit of the UK Commission is to provide vigorous and independent challenge, advising government at the highest levels across the UK on employment and skills strategy, targets, policies and progress towards the challenging competitiveness goals set by Lord Leitch, including the vision of an 80% employment rate by 2020. It has been asked by the Government to report on crucial issues, such as the skills employers need for future economic success, how UK employers can use skills to become more globally competitive, and whether further institutional change is required to deliver better integrated employment and skills services.
The principal roles of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills are:
- to develop an independent view of how employment and skills systems can be improved to increase employment retention and progression, skills and productivity
- to provide advice to inform strategic policy development and the exchange of good practice to shape these systems to meet the needs of employers and individuals
- to express advice at the highest levels of government in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and
- to manage the performance of Sector Skills Councils, including advising Ministers on their relicensing
For further information please contact Josh Coe at the DIUS press office on 020 3300 8127 or Alex Curling at the UKCES press office on 01709 774890.
