Skills

These objectives form the cornerstone of the Government’s vision:

• 95% of adults to achieve the basic skills of functional literacy and numeracy;
• exceeding 90% of adults qualified to at least level 2, with a commitment to achieve 95% as soon as possible;
• 68% of the adult population qualified to level 3;
• over 40% of the adult population qualified to level 4 and above.
• increasing apprenticeships to 500,000 a year.

London position

London is in a relatively strong position compared to other regions of the UK but still needs to improve to maintain its position and contribute to the national targets.  Also, its economy is more geared to higher level, knowledge-based skills at level 4 and above.  A priority is to develop these skills within the existing workforce rather than continue to rely on importing workers. This would help tackle the large number (over 600,000) of people with few or no skills, or who need help with literacy or numeracy, who are at risk of long term exclusion from the labour market.  A number of London local authorities are tackling this issue through skills targets in their local area agreements. 

National skills strategy

At national level the skills needs of the economy are determined by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills:

The national skills strategy has been refreshed to take account of changing needs and priorities.  The government published its revised strategy ‘Skills for Growth’ in November 2009:

Commitments include:

• Creating a modern technician class through more advanced apprenticeships
• Investing in skills in the sectors on which future growth and jobs depend
• Empowering individuals through skills accounts giving people ‘consumer choice’ and better information about courses
• The introduction of light touch monitoring arrangements for our best providers
• Simplifying the skills landscape, working with UKCES to implement their recommendation to reduce the number of separately publicly funded agencies by over 30 in the next three years

Regional skills strategy

In London the regional skills strategy is the responsibility of the London Skills and Employment Board, which is chaired by the Mayor.  The strategy is delivered by partner agencies, primarily the Learning and Skills Council (which from April 2010 will be replaced by the Skills Funding Agency), but local authorities, the National Apprenticeship Service, Jobcentre Plus and the London Development Agency itself have important roles too.

Further details about strategy and programmes can be obtained from:

London Skills and Employment Board

Learning and Skills Council

Job Centre Plus

There are some other important organisational changes associated with the abolition of the LSC, including the transfer of responsibility for planning provision for 16-19 year olds to local authorities: Link