Skills partner statement of action for government and employers
Updated 20 December 2017
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2017
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skills-partner-statement-of-action-for-government-and-employers/skills-partner-statement-of-action-for-government-and-employers
The government, employers and education providers have embarked on an ambitious series of reforms to the technical education system, including apprenticeships.
The skills partner statement of action sets out what government and employers will achieve together working in partnership – alongside and in support of the education sector – to deliver that ambition.
Skills partner statement of action
We commit to working together to create a strong skills programme that gives every individual the opportunity to succeed – whatever their background – and employers the skills they need to prosper.
Only by working together in a genuine partnership can we:
- boost social mobility and reduce inequality
- deliver the skilled workforce the nation needs
- harness the benefits of ever-changing technology
The Department for Education commits to:
- collaborating with employers on its strategy and plans
- listening to employers
- developing its policies and programmes where they can be improved or enhanced to deliver wider objectives
In turn, employers commit to work as partners with government and education and training providers to design and deliver the reform programme. Each employer’s contribution will reflect their particular strengths and experience.
DfE and businesses/employers will work together to:
- develop an apprenticeship system which provides hands on experience and a route to skilled employment for people of all ages and backgrounds
- maximise the opportunities of the apprenticeship reforms and evolve the system in light of experience of reforms
- create more employer encounters for young people – for example, by working with The Careers and Enterprise Company
- support the National Careers Service to ensure that people have access to the best possible information and advice throughout their lifetime
- develop and deliver the new technical routes and ‘T levels’
- offer high quality work placements for students studying technical education
- support the new National Colleges and Institutes of Technology, which will provide the higher level skills that employers and the country needs
- support the development of a further education teaching profession whose members are equipped with relevant and up to date industry experience, and establish better collaboration between further education providers and employers
- ensure everyone is able to develop their skills, and learn new skills, throughout their working life
- widen participation and social mobility – to ensure that more people from a diverse range of backgrounds and from all parts of the country have access to the benefits of technical education and other routes into work
Sign up to the skills partner statement of action
Employers can find out more about the skills partner programme.
To discuss what becoming a skills partner entails and the benefits it can bring to your organisation, or if you have any further questions, email skills.partner@education.gov.uk.
Once you’ve read the statement of action, you can register your organisation’s interest in becoming a skills partner.
About the skills partner statement of action
Skills are developed through training and experience in work. Government, educators, and employers should work together to innovate and create opportunities for personal and economic growth.
This is the start of a new partnership between government and employers to create a world-class technical education system which helps people reach their potential, regardless of background.
At the heart of this partnership is the statement of action - a public commitment made by government and employers to work together to realise this vision. Signing the statement joins your organisation to the Department for Education behind this pledge.
Who can sign the statement
The statement is primarily for government and employers. In some cases it can also be for learning and training providers and their representative bodies.
The statement of action should be signed by a senior leader or anyone from your organisation with a similar level of authority.
We’re interested in the actions your organisation is taking - we may contact you to find out more information and to check if there are additional ways we can help.
Skills partner statement of action vision
The statement sets out a vision for our future skills system and a range of options for how you might collaborate with us on the reform programme. We ask that employers signing the statement publicly commit to working to achieve one or more of these.
You don’t need to take action under every area of skills reform. Your organisation’s contribution will reflect its particular strengths and experience.
Skills partners
We want to recognise and celebrate the commitment you make. The skills partner brand demonstrates that your organisation is at the forefront of developing home-grown skills – one that understands how better skills can benefit your staff, customers and long term growth.
After you have signed the statement, you become a skills partner and can use the brand on materials relevant to this agenda. We will supply brand guidelines outlining how this should be used.
Careers Enterprise Company (CEC) and National Careers Service (NCS)
The CEC connects schools, colleges, employers and careers programme providers, focusing primarily on secondary education students.
The NCS provides website, phone, and face-to-face advice, information and guidance. It uses qualified careers advisers and is aimed primarily at adults.
National Colleges
National Colleges are new educational institutions supported by the department which provide higher level technical skills. They provide courses and apprenticeship training for their chosen industries between levels 4 to 6, with some provision at level 3.
Learners are usually aged 19 and above and will attend a National College to undertake a college-based course or apprenticeship training.
Working with new or existing educational institutions
Your organisation can still work with further education colleges and university technical colleges. You’re not restricted to working with new institutions, such as National Colleges.