1. Skills for Growth The national skills strategy November 2009 Philip Britton LSC

2. Challenge Skills levels have been increasing, but not as fast as competitor economies Skills are key to individual progression and to economic growth Skills policy must encourage wider and more flexible access to training and put even greater focus on skills needed for modern world of work

3. Priorities Promoting skills for economic prosperity. Still committed to Leitch Report targets, but with enhanced emphasis on job and other outcomes, not just qualifications. Increasing literacy /numeracy and level 2 still important, but more emphasis on advanced technician and vocational levels. Ambition that 75% of people should participate in HE or complete advanced apprenticeship or technician courses by age of 30.

4. Priorities cont. Expand the apprenticeship system to build a new technician class. Increase provision of advanced apprenticeships. Strengthen vocational opportunities for 14- 19 year olds. Build stronger pathways into HE for 19 +. Ensure skills system responds to business demand while better supporting key sectors. Invest more in higher skilled, high growth sectors. Identify and respond more quickly to skills shortages. RDAs to produce regional strategies to align skills demand with economic development. Joint investment scheme with SSCs. More support for national skills academies. Empower all adults to equip themselves for future jobs. Introduce skills accounts for all learners and further improve IAG. Introduce public rating system for every college and course to assist choice. Equip people on out of work benefits with skills to compete for,stay and progress in jobs. Combine technical skills training with skills needed for setting up a business, where required.

5. Priorities cont. Raise recognition among business of the value of investing in workforce skills to improve productivity. Help companies accessing business support to make better use of skills already in workforce. Promote skills and apprenticeship opportunities through government procurement.Work with business on legislation on right to request training.Consider new occupational licensing arrangements where there are real benefits. Improve quality of provision within a simpler skills system. Simpler funding and monitoring of providers in exchange for more public data about performance. Reduce and rationalise number of bodies involved. Switch public funds away from programmes that contribute least to national priorities.

6. Skills Investment Strategy 2010/11 Follow up document that provides information about where funds will be invested in specific programmes Overall funding increased slightly, but reprioritised and many rates per learner reduced ie expected to do more for less. Individuals and business expected to contribute more. Adult safeguarded learning (‘informal learning.’) £210 m budget nationally retained for 2010/11. Transitional year, moving towards changes in the way funds are allocated in 2011/12.