UKCES

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills today welcomed the appointment of Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, as its new Chairman.  Charlie succeeds Sir Mike Rake, Chairman of BT, with immediate effect.

Sir Mike, who has led the UK Commission since its inception in 2008, said:

“It has been a privilege for me to lead the UK Commission, and to play a part in the vitally important work it is doing to help improve employment and skills systems throughout the UK.  I am particularly pleased that the government’s newly-published Skills Strategy recognises the importance of the Commission’s work and gives it an enhanced role in developing skills and employment systems which are flexible, responsive and value for money.

“Charlie has been a staunch supporter of the Commission from the very beginning, and I can think of no-one better to lead this exciting new phase of its development.”

Charlie Mayfield added:

“I genuinely believe in the potential that exists for people in skills and employment. There is a significant opportunity to improve our skills, our productivity and our economy to create a fairer society, and I am looking forward to playing my part by leading the UK Commission for Employment and Skills in its goal to raise prosperity and opportunity by encouraging employer ambition and developing world-class employment and skills systems.

“I would like to thank Sir Mike Rake for the commitment and  visionary leadership that he has provided for the Commission since its inception, and for the immense contribution he has made to improving the UK’s employment and skills systems over the past two-and-a-half years.  He is a hard act to follow, but I am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead.”

Ends

Notes

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 challenging competitiveness goals.  

Charlie Mayfield became the John Lewis Partnership's fifth Chairman in March 2007. He joined the Partnership in 2000 as Head of Business Development, for both John Lewis and Waitrose. Charlie joined the Board as Development Director in 2001 and was responsible for developing the Partnership’s online strategy. He became Managing Director of John Lewis in January 2005 prior to taking up his appointment as Chairman of the Partnership in March 2007.

Further information from Alex Curling, Head of Press, 01709 774890 / 07748 090500