Skills News Stories
Interim solution for skills shortages
Customer Consulting Ltd (CCL), a change management company, has launched an interim division providing staff to organisations facing skills shortages during the recession. The company, which specialises in customer and change management is drawing on its pool of some 350 consultants, each averaging around 20 years experience, to help businesses and their teams make the most of their internal resources. View More >
Calls to look in our own backyard for green skills
The UK’s acute shortage of engineers, skilled in green technologies, could be overcome by using unemployed workers who have transferable skills. Gary Hewett, managing director of ATA Energy, a recruitment consultancy specialising in the energy generation sector, says companies should not overlook the wealth of talent that exists among engineers working in more traditional industries. View More >
Recession nearly over says skills commission
The recession is almost over according to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES). UKCES chief executive, Chris Humphries, made the comments during a speech to L&D practitioners at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) Resilience through Recession conference in London yesterday (11/06/09). View More >
Logistics skills boost
Yorkshire businesses are set to benefit from the launch of a Regional Logistics Academy. Skills for Logistics (SfL), the sector skills council for the freight logistics industries, launched the Logistics Academy Yorkshire & Humber (LAYH) as part of Business Week 2009, which took place last week (03/06/09). View More >
UK warming up for Skills Olympics
The UK is preparing to compete in the largest skills-based competition in the world. The 40th WorldSkills games, to be held this summer in Calgary, Canada, is aimed at 15- to 23-year-olds studying vocational courses at college or work and features competitions in more than 40 categories, ranging from hairdressing to brick-laying. View More >
Skills gap not the glass ceiling holding women back
A lack of necessary skills, not the glass ceiling, is making it hard for women to break into Britain’s top boardrooms. A report published this week found women need to concentrate on upskilling and improving their confidence if they are to become “board ready”. View More >
Recovery fears as construction fails to attract students
The construction industry is failing to attract new students, leading to a widening skills gap developing in the sector. Results from the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) annual skills survey show only around a third of respondents are sure their companies are still employing apprentices and one in ten say their organisations are unable to afford them altogether in the current economic climate. View More >
Commission calls for cooperation to achieve skills ambitions
A “new common sense for our age” is needed to ensure the UK remains one of the most prosperous nations in the world over the next decade. All the key players in the skills debate – individuals, business, government and training providers – must work together if the UK is to achieve the targets set out by Lord Leitch in his 2006 report on the skills the country needs to remain economically competitive in 2020. View More >
Are you telling staff your main business aim this year is survival? It's not good enough, experts warn
Businesses need a “cause greater than just survival” if they are to sustain employee engagement during the economic upturn, warn leading HR practitioners. David Smith (pictured), formerly of Asda and Philippa Hird, formerly of ITV, were speaking at the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) HRD conference in London on Wednesday. View More >
Major manufacturer champions apprenticeships at HRD
The skills shortage may be easing but apprenticeships should be encouraged at all ages to create high calibre candidates, Rolls Royce is urging. Speaking on the first day of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development’s HRD conference in London, the manufacturer’s executive vice president of human resources – operations and UK employment and skills policy, Margaret Gildea (pictured), said today: “Apprenticeships have to be delivered by employers but encouraged by central government, and they should be available to any age including beyond 25.” View More >
Managers’ communication skills put under scrutiny by new research
Line managers have to improve their communication skills if they are to retain a motivated, engaged workforce during the recession - according to new research. And the YouGov survey, commissioned by Threshold Communication, found less then half of British workers believe their company has a clear plan to withstand the recession. View More >
Money secured for scheme to help women in construction
Women working in the construction industry are set to benefit from a further £1/2m government funding, won to support continued training in the sector. ConstructionSkills, a government-funded project, secured the money for the Women and Work: Sector Pathways initiative, despite the economic downturn. View More >
Search for Britain's best young speaker down to final eight
Many people find public speaking uncomfortable - so imagine if you were one of the final eight contestants on a TV program aiming to find Britain’s best young speaker. To add to the pressure, BBC2’s The Speaker is judged by a panel that includes former basketball star turned motivational speaker, John Amaechi (pictured). View More >
Top award for innovative employer
A Wearside-based community regeneration specialist has scooped a Learning Skills Council (LSC) award for its innovative approach to skills development. Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) North East was crowned the region’s large employer of the year at the LSC North East’s Celebration of Learning and Skills Awards (CoLaS), held in the Sage, Gateshead. View More >
SMEs welcome merger of Train to Gain and Business Link
Moves to improve access to free training advice and support for employers during the recession have been welcomed by small businesses. The Train to Gain skills brokerage service has joined with Business Link to simplify access to information for employers by offering impartial advice on what specific training could help businesses increase productivity. View More >
Simplified public funding for business scheme launched today
Businesses can get access to government funding for skills and training through a simplified system launched today. View More >
CECA survey reveals continuing commitment to training
Civil engineering companies intend to continue training employees and taking on apprentices this year, according to the latest research. A survey of its members by the Civil Engineering Contractors Association has revealed that many intend to maintain or increase the amount of training they are carrying out this year. A high number also aim to recruit apprentices – either the same number as, or more than, they did last year. View More >
Donation helps prisoners gain “real work experience”
Prisoners receiving “real work experience” to prepare them for re-entering the community have received a donation of electrical equipment. View More >
New health academy addresses local skills needs
Healthcare workers’ skills training requirements are being tailored to meet the needs of each region through the launch of new academy. The Skills for Health Academy (SfHA) has recently been launched by Skills for Health, the sector skills council for the healthcare sector. John Rogers, chief executive has called for employers and providers to work together in partnership to deliver skills solutions to meet future workforce requirements. View More >
Diversity and flexibility way forward for higher education
Growing numbers of part-time students will force universities and colleges to offer more diverse and flexible ways to study. Speaking to senior academics at a conference to debate the future of higher education, skills minister John Denham (pictured) warned yesterday that the sector must adapt to survive in the long term. View More >
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Skills News
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