Government Offices support the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) in improving skills. The role varies around the country though all GOs promote and support the following DIUS priorities:
More information on the national picture
Currently, our economic productivity and competitiveness are below those of our major competitors, in no small part due to the serious gaps in our national skills base. Employers have said for some time that that they are not getting recruits with the skills they want.
The Skills Strategy White Paper - 21st Century Skills Realising Our Potential provides a coherent policy framework centred around the needs of employers and learners. It recognises the importance of mobilising the full commitment of Government, its agencies, education and training providers, employers, unions and individual learners in a joined-up, collaborative mission.
The strategy is not predominantly about new initiatives, but is about making more effective use of what is already there. The overriding goal is to ensure that everyone has the skills they need to become more employable and adaptable.