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| Skills training 'needs shake-up' | Skills training 'needs shake-up' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A radical change in the way young people and adults are trained is needed to plug the skills gap and stop Britain lagging behind, a key report has said. | A radical change in the way young people and adults are trained is needed to plug the skills gap and stop Britain lagging behind, a key report has said. |
| In the government-commissioned review, Lord Leitch recommends making full or part-time education or training compulsory up until the age of 18. | |
| He wants 95% of British adults to have basic numeracy and literacy by 2020. | |
| Employers should have more say over training and a new careers service should be created in England, he adds. | Employers should have more say over training and a new careers service should be created in England, he adds. |
| He also warned there were too many vocational qualifications, many with few benefits. | |
| 'Lingering decline' | 'Lingering decline' |
| The report warns that even if current targets are met, skills in the UK will still lag behind comparable countries in 2020. | The report warns that even if current targets are met, skills in the UK will still lag behind comparable countries in 2020. |
| Lord Leitch said: "Without increased skills, we would condemn ourselves to a lingering decline in competitiveness, diminishing economic growth and a bleaker future for all. The case for action is compelling and urgent." | Lord Leitch said: "Without increased skills, we would condemn ourselves to a lingering decline in competitiveness, diminishing economic growth and a bleaker future for all. The case for action is compelling and urgent." |
| The report makes clear that in the light of the huge challenge from growing economies such as China and India, the UK cannot afford to stand still. | The report makes clear that in the light of the huge challenge from growing economies such as China and India, the UK cannot afford to stand still. |
| He says that despite progress, parts of the UK's skills base remain weaker than those of other developed nations. | He says that despite progress, parts of the UK's skills base remain weaker than those of other developed nations. |
| The report points out that 5 million adults lack functional literacy and more than 17 million have difficulties with numbers. | The report points out that 5 million adults lack functional literacy and more than 17 million have difficulties with numbers. |
| More than one in six youngsters leave school unable to read, write or add up properly, it adds. | More than one in six youngsters leave school unable to read, write or add up properly, it adds. |
| The report urges ministers to commit to a "compelling new vision" and to become a world leader in skills by 2020. | The report urges ministers to commit to a "compelling new vision" and to become a world leader in skills by 2020. |
| By this date Lord Leitch wants to see: | By this date Lord Leitch wants to see: |
| 95% of adults gain basic skills in literacy and numeracy, with the government primarily responsible for funding | |
| More than 90% of adults with GCSEs or vocational equivalents with funding shared between the government and employers | |
| Apprenticeships boosted to 500,000 a year | Apprenticeships boosted to 500,000 a year |
| More than 40% of adults with degrees or higher level qualifications, mostly funded by employers or individuals | |
| The prize for this achievement is huge, the report says. | The prize for this achievement is huge, the report says. |
| Not only will society become more prosperous and productive, with lower unemployment and levels of poverty and inequality, but there will be a net financial benefit of £80bn over three years, it adds. | |
| But, he said, it will come at a cost. | |
| He wants government spending on higher education - currently at 1.1% of the GDP - brought in line with the US, South Korea and Australia, all of which spend at least 2% of their GDPs on it. | |
| Employers too should increase their investment, currently estimated at £33bn, he said. One third of employers provide no training at all. | |
| The CBI said companies will wholeheartedly endorse Lord Leitch's central tenet that the skills needs of employers - and their employees - should be put at the heart of the UK's adult training system. | |
| The Association of Colleges, which represents 400 further education institutions, backed the plan to extend education and training for everyone up to the age of 18. | The Association of Colleges, which represents 400 further education institutions, backed the plan to extend education and training for everyone up to the age of 18. |
| Employers across all sectors must be involved if we are to close the enormous skills gaps that are threatening future competitiveness Mark FisherSector Skills Development Agency | Employers across all sectors must be involved if we are to close the enormous skills gaps that are threatening future competitiveness Mark FisherSector Skills Development Agency |
| It was a disgrace that 200,000 young people were out of work or in jobs with no training, it said. | It was a disgrace that 200,000 young people were out of work or in jobs with no training, it said. |
| AoC chief executive Dr John Brennan added: "If Leitch is right, and a dramatic expansion in the nation's skills base is required, this should not be at the expense of individuals' opportunities, but a radical rethink of how everyone - employers, the state and individuals themselves, should invest." | AoC chief executive Dr John Brennan added: "If Leitch is right, and a dramatic expansion in the nation's skills base is required, this should not be at the expense of individuals' opportunities, but a radical rethink of how everyone - employers, the state and individuals themselves, should invest." |
| Mark Fisher, chief executive of the Sector Skills Development Agency, said the report recognised that employers must be "in the driving seat of workforce development". | Mark Fisher, chief executive of the Sector Skills Development Agency, said the report recognised that employers must be "in the driving seat of workforce development". |
| "It is vital that employers across all sectors must be involved if we are to close the enormous skills gaps that are threatening future competitiveness." | "It is vital that employers across all sectors must be involved if we are to close the enormous skills gaps that are threatening future competitiveness." |
| 'Serious consequences' | 'Serious consequences' |
| But TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber responded: "The clock is ticking for the one in three employers who fail to train." | |
| He added that Lord Leitch's call on employers to publicly pledge their commitment to increase skills sent a strong message to those employers who short change staff, and the UK economy, by refusing to train. | He added that Lord Leitch's call on employers to publicly pledge their commitment to increase skills sent a strong message to those employers who short change staff, and the UK economy, by refusing to train. |
| Deputy general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders Mark Ward said employability was a very important aspect of the education. | |
| Soft skills such as team working and good communications skills were also wanted by employers but the exams system often worked against efforts to give students these. | Soft skills such as team working and good communications skills were also wanted by employers but the exams system often worked against efforts to give students these. |
| A coalition of 32 organisations from across adult learning have written to Gordon Brown warning that the failure to fund adult learning for all will have serious economic consequences. | A coalition of 32 organisations from across adult learning have written to Gordon Brown warning that the failure to fund adult learning for all will have serious economic consequences. |