Unite backs strategy for workers to access skills
20th August 2009
Five sector skills councils supported by trade unions Unite,
Prospect, GMB, CSEU and the TUC have launched an initiative to
improve access to quality training and development for
manufacturing companies in the UK.
The Manufacturing Skills Alliance - which consists of the sector
skills councils - Cogent, Improve Ltd, Proskills, Semta and
Skillfast-UK - revealed its plans at a House of Lords event with
business and regulatory reform minister, Ian Lucas MP.
The Manufacturing Skills Alliance has already started on a
number of projects that benefit employers in the manufacturing and
processing industries. These include 'Productivity and
Competitiveness' (PAC) programmes which provide training in lean
manufacturing. The programme pilot saw 14 companies go through the
PAC programme, with an average of £93,000 increase in
profitability.
Speaking in support of the MSA plan minister Ian Lucas said:
“The government’s manufacturing strategy identified access to
skills as one of the five key dynamics that is instrumental in
reshaping global manufacturing. A globally competitive advanced
manufacturing sector is completely dependent on UK manufacturers
having access to the right skills, in the right place, at the right
time.”
The alliance has been developing new qualifications and new
routes into industry such as the new diplomas and foundation
degrees. It is developing smaller, flexible, modular and standards
based qualifications that match the way employers actually train
their staff. The alliance is also running workshops for union
learning reps to support their understanding of the available
skills support and is developing best practice in careers
guidance.
The alliance is fully supported by the trades unions involved
with the five SSC’s. Tony Burke, Unite assistant general secretary,
who is a member of the board of Cogent, said: “The workforce of any
company is the key asset of any organisation and the employees
across the manufacturing industries have contributed to their
growth and success through their skills and talents.
“Developing skills is paramount to creating a strong industry
base and Unite is rigorously pursuing this agenda. We are working
through the Manufacturing Skills Alliance with employers to ensure
a framework where employees develop new skills and gain
qualifications that really mean something.”
The sector skills councils have also helped industry and
government make effective training interventions through the 'Train
to Gain' campaign and sector compacts, where flexible funding has
been negotiated to support and increase the numbers of employers
investing in their workforce.
ENDS
For further information contact Bernard Rutter on 07973 630962
or Tony Burke on 07831 659939 or Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite
press office on 020 7420 8914 or 07980 224761.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Manufacturing Skills Alliance plan has the following
priorities:
- To co-ordinate the approach to labour market intelligence
so colleges and training providers get clear demand signals
including those from green and emerging industries.
- To support development of the 'UK Talent Plan' to provide
easier access to skills information and strengthen links with
manufacturing insight which will promote manufacturing
careers.
- To produce a common employer skills offer with measurable and
sustainable impact on business performance through programmes such
as business improvement techniques.
- To develop a coherent set of programmes to meet the current and
future needs of manufacturing employers and to improve
transferability for individuals.
- To adopt a common approach in higher education to help increase
employer engagement in innovation and knowledge
transfer.
To support manufacturing through the recession to ensure
readiness for the upturn.
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