Training Update – What you Need to Know and Where to Look for it

For anyone with an interest in keeping up to date with developments in training, the current debates are something that has to be watched.

Where to start? That is the question. There is such a lot of information available that it is easy to lose track. So here is our advice -

Start with the Skills and Education Newsletter. The Skills and Education Network is an online community of professionals in post-16 education and training provision and publishes a regular newsletter. It is free to join and you get regular updates sent to your mail box. Sign up to this on the following link.
http://senet.lsc.gov.uk/newsletter/newsletter.cfm

Then take a look at Skills for Business. This is a network made up of 25 sector skills councils. Each one is an employer-led, independent organisation. This link will lead you to skills for business. http://www.ssda.org.uk/ssda/default.aspx?page=0

The Sector Skills Development Agency itself underpins the network and is responsible for funding, supporting and monitoring the SSCs and has oodles of information about them. http://www.ssda.org.uk/ssda/default.aspx?page=1

This page also has a new publication called SSDA Catalyst - there will be a series of short papers aimed to promote knowledge and encourage debate.

Now try dipping your toe in the water of the policy debate. There’s a lot to take in but the big thing that you have to look at is the Skills White Paper, published this year in February. You can get to that by going here.

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/publications/14-19educationandskills/docs/14-19Whitepaper.doc

On 27 March 2006 the Department for Education and Skills published the FE Reform White Paper. Further Education (FE) is central to transforming the life chances of young people and adults and to the prosperity of the nation. See this website http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1397

For the latest developments about the role of FE in the development of skills this press release from the Learning and Skills Council provides some interesting background:
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/National/Media/PressReleases/pr354_fe-white-paper.htm

Changes at the Learning and Skills Council

Leading Learning and Skills The Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the organisation responsible for making England better skilled and more competitive, today announced that its top management team has been selected. Around 100 senior managers will take the organisation forward ensuring that the LSC delivers more efficiently and effectively for individuals, employers and communities across the country.

In September 2005 the LSC announced a major restructure as part of its agenda for change*. Mark Haysom, Chief Executive of the LSC said:

"We needed to transform ourselves into a smaller, more dynamic customer facing organisation better able to make decisions locally and regionally with better support at a national level. Much has been achieved by the LSC with a record number of young people in learning and a record number of Apprentices. But, our restructure will allow us to achieve better quality and more consistent delivery across the board and it will take the LSC to a new, more strategic level which will benefit those we serve up and down the land.
"I’m really looking forward to working with our new appointees. They are well placed to make a real difference, quickly. The remaining reorganisation will follow which means that by the summer we will have a new, more strategic LSC making a difference where it counts".

Find out more on this web link
http://www.lsc.gov.uk/National/Media/PressReleases/top-100-chosen_for-new-lsc.htm

And there is lots more too. For example, Lifelong Learning UK is the organisation responsible for the professional development of all those working in libraries, archives and information services, work-based learning, higher education, further education and community learning and development. http://www.lifelonglearninguk.org/home/home.html

Lifelong Learning UK

Lifelong Learning UK logo Lifelong Learning UK is responsible for the professional development of all those working in libraries, archives and information services, work-based learning, higher education, further education and community learning and development.
http://www.lifelonglearninguk.org/home/home.html

Train2gain

Train to Gain logo The government estimates that poor skill levels among the national workforce are holding the economy back to the tune of £10 billion a year. The Learning and Skills Council has been tasked with finding out if an initiative such as Train2gain can encourage more businesses to invest in training, and thereby boost the economy. By increasing skills in literacy, numeracy and vocational qualifications, British business could become more productive and more competitive abroad. This is all very new but take a look at the Try2gain site and get up to speed.
http://www.train2gain.info

The Learning and Skills council’s Skills and Education network provides a short overview on Train2gain too, which is worth looking at. This is definitely a space worth watching. http://senet.lsc.gov.uk/guide2/employerengagement_ETP/index.cfm

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