The head of the food and drink sector skills council has called on the new coalition government to make full use of what he called ‘a new-found activism’ on skills and training among employers.
Responding to the publication of the Confederation of British Industry’s latest Education and Skills Survey, Improve chief executive Jack Matthews says it is clear how central skills have become to the business strategies of most companies.
He urged the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat administration to harness this by putting employers at the heart of a more coordinated approach to skills and education.
“This CBI survey shows the importance employers place on skills and workforce development as a means of underpinning the UK’s competitiveness and cementing economic recovery. There is a real desire across industry to play an active role in skills and education. Two-thirds of businesses now have formal links with secondary and Higher Education, and the same proportion see investment in skills as key to achieving their strategic objectives.
“It is vital the new government takes heed of this new-found activism and succeeds where its predecessors have perhaps fallen short in delivering a demand-led education system which is fit for the purposes of business. The priorities of employers couldn’t be more clear - nearly three quarters want to see improvements in the employability skills...