The UK Commission for Employment and
Skills
The UK Commission aims to raise UK prosperity and
opportunity by improving employment and skills.
Our ambition is to benefit employers, individuals and
government by advising how improved employment and skills systems
can help the UK become a world-class leader in productivity, in
employment and in having a fair and inclusive society: all this in
the context of a fast-changing global economy.
Reskilling for recovery: After Leitch, implementing
skills and training policies
Published by The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills
Committee: Friday, January 16
This report takes a critical overview of the impact of the
Leitch agenda and assesses how the UK, and more specifically
England, can move towards achieving the ambitious targets within a
tight timescale.
It does so in the context of the current economic climate
which is very different from that in which Lord Leitch conducted
the review, and should place skills development right at the top of
the political and employment agenda.
It concludes that as the UK comes out of recession, people
will be needed who can pick up the new range of jobs which emerge
at that time. An emphasis on reskilling is therefore
"vital". The report calls on the Government to ensure the
success of its skills agenda through clear communication of its
vision and through practical measures to enable employers and
individuals to recognise and reap the benefits of higher levels of
skills.
This report is a collective view from the dozen or so MPs who
make up the IUSS Committee. It carries influence and has high
expectations of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, but
there should be no assumption that its recommendations for action
will be accepted by Government. DIUS will consider the report and
then make a formal response in a few months' time. The UK
Commission expects to be heavily involved in the discussions over
that response.
