CITY & GUILDS CHIEF TAKES ON UK EMPLOYMENT AND SKILLS INTEGRATION AND REFORM
Appointment of the new Chief Executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills
The Government today announced Chris Humphries, Director General of City & Guilds and Chair of UK Skills, as the inaugural Chief Executive of the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary John Denham said:
We are delighted to announce this appointment, Chris has a wealth of experience in working with employers and understanding their skills needs. As Chair of UK Skills he has been a champion of excellence in vocational education and training. His appointment signals a key milestone in setting up the new UK Commission which will be in the vanguard of integrating employment and skills to achieve better economic performance for the benefit of both employers and individuals.
Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said:
The UK Commission's unique role will be to secure a highly skilled workforce, helping to increase employment levels and in particular to engage more people from disadvantaged backgrounds and help them into sustained employment. Chris has a strong track record of supporting adults into long term jobs which will help us meet our goal of achieving an 80% employment rate.
The establishment of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills was a key recommendation of the independent report by Lord Leitch 'Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills' published in December. Sir Michael Rake, chair of BT was appointed as Chair of the new organisation earlier this year. Sir Michael said
This is an excellent appointment. Chris has an impressive CV and has worked with a range of stakeholders in the employment and skills field. His role is key to creating our new organisation, giving it the credibility to work across the UK, to advise Ministers and to tackle the challenges set out by Sandy Leitch through meeting the UK's ambitions on employment and skills for 2020.
Chris Humphries said.
I am absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity to head up this new and truly ground breaking organisation. Raising the UK's skills base has been a central plank of my career over the last 20 years. I believe that by raising skill levels we can improve our national productivity, our international competitiveness and can ultimately increase employment which clearly contributes to a more inclusive society. The challenge is huge. I look forward to it with relish.
Notes to Editors
This appointment, has been made following the Code of Practice of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Chris Humphries was appointed as Director General of City & Guilds - one of the largest Awarding Bodies - in April 2001. He was formerly Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce from 1998-2001, and Chief Executive of the TEC National Council from 1994-1998.
Chris was a founder member of the national Learning and Skills Council. He has been a member of the Skills Strategy Steering Group since December 2002, is Chairman of UK Skills, and was appointed Chairman of the WorldSkills 2011 Partnership Board from November 2006. Australian by birth, Chris moved to London in 1974 where he still lives with his family. He was awarded the CBE for services to training and enterprise in June 1998.
The UK Commission for Employment and Skills was a recommendation of the independent report by Lord Leitch 'Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills' published in December 2006. The Commission have as its key purpose improving the UK skills base to improve productivity, competitiveness, increase employment and make a contribution to a fairer society. The Commission will scrutinise the skills and employment system and advise Ministers at the highest levels of Government on progress towards UK ambitions of achieving a world class profile on skills by 2020 and the aspiration of an 80% employment rate.
The Chair of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills is Sir Michael Rake Chair of BT. Sir Michael was a member of the CBI's President's Committee from 2001 to 2006, and is a member of the CBI International Advisory Committee. He is a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum. He is Chair of Business in the Community, and is on the Board of the Prince of Wales' International Business Leaders Forum. He is a Vice-President of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, and is on the Advisory Board of the Judge Institute at the University of Cambridge.
The UK Commission will be established during 2007 and will commence operations in April 2008. It will replace many functions of two existing bodies - the Sector Skills Development Agency and the National Employment Panel - which will close in 2008.
Sector Skills Development Agency was established in 2002 and is responsible for funding, supporting and monitoring the network of 25 Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). An employer-led Board provides additional strategic support and advice. The SSDA is a non-departmental public body. www.ssda.org.uk
The National Employment Panel is composed of top business executives along with public sector and community leaders. They provide independent advice on welfare reform and labour market issues to Ministers in the Treasury, the Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Children Schools and families and the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills. www.nationalemploymentpanel.gov.uk
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