WIREDGOV

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) has become one of ’s first employers to sign up to the Employer Skills Pledge. LLUK is leading by example on the Pledge, which was announced at a launch event at the Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square, London on June 14^th.

LLUK Chief Executive David Hunter announced “We are leading by example in making a positive commitment to upskilling our workforce, in line with the recommendations by Lord Leitch. Our company-wide training and development programme, ‘The Learning Field’ not only promises to provide all staff with the opportunity to gain basic skills if required but also goes further, to invest in management and leadership training to create world-class leaders“.  

David Hunter made the commitment in front of a select crowd including some of the most senior figures in government - Prime Minister in-waiting Gordon Brown and Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Alan Johnson.

As the Sector Skills Council for lifelong learning, LLUK is the employer voice responsible for setting the standards for those people who deliver learning in the post-16 sector. Mr Hunter was pleased to receive immediate support from Sheffield College , who also signed up to the Pledge. Sheffield College Principal and Chief Executive John Taylor was at the event with Mr Hunter.

The Employer Skills Pledge precedes the Government’s Leitch Implementation Plan. The Plan is in response to Lord Leitch’s Review of Skills which was published in December last year. The Review suggested a number of targets in order to make globally competitive.  

On LLUK’s role in achieving these targets, the Education Secretary has already shown he has no doubt. Speaking at the LLUK conference last December he said:  

“Our lifelong learning workforce must be firing on all cylinders and this is where LLUK plays a vital role. We won’t create world class skills in without world class trainers”.

The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to 5 good GCSES).  The purpose is to ensure that all staff are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the success of the company/organisation.

Many employers may choose to go further, as is the case with LLUK, in committing to upskilling their entire workforce in higher level requirements, where relevant to their business.

The Skills Pledge is open to all employers of all sizes in the private, public and voluntary sectors.