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Theme : skills
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FT.com / Business spurns 'patronising' government skills drive
'A list of the first 157 organisations to agree to the new "skills pledge", published yesterday as part of the scheme's formal launch by Gordon Brown, the chancellor, showed more than half were either government departments, quangos, charities or trade associations.'
David Frost, said: "The overwhelming majority of businesses are committed to training their staff, albeit not always through standard qualifications, as often these do not meet their needs."
from : duncanoleary
15th June 2007
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Mind the gap
Despite thirty years of legislation disadvantaged young women are yet to reap the rewards of gender equality in the workplace.
from : celiahannon
13th June 2007
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Arts students 'plan careers less'
Arts and humanities students are much less likely to have made plans for working after university and expect less well-paid jobs, suggests research.
The UK Graduate Careers Survey examined students' expectations of the graduate job market - and found a much more confident, work-focused, approach from students on work-related courses.
from : duncanoleary
8th May 2007
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Learning for Life: A new framework for adult skills (ippr publication)
IPPR report arguing that interest-free loans should be available to adults in FE, putting the system on a level foting with HE. Also argues for a stronger role for Local authotities.
from : duncanoleary
19th March 2007
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UK construction sector faces skills shortage / FT.com /
'Britain is expected to experience a building bonanza over the next five years, placing an increasing strain on the availability of skilled labour, according to industry forecasts.'
from : duncanoleary
6th March 2007
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New Statesman - Why skills don't matter any more
Argues system of modern capitalism is undermining skills investment:
'Modern capitalism's emphasis on flexibility has deprived most employees of any sense of narrative in their working lives
...their skills are declared obsolescent, their job is outsourced, their company is taken over or suddenly switches to different products and markets. Constant downsizing and delayering make any promotion provisional. In such a world, only a fool commits either to a particular company or a particular skill'
from : duncanoleary
5th February 2007
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Confronting the Skills Paradox:
This provocation paper analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the emerging consensus – given expression by Lord Leitch in his review – around education and skills policy for the future. It argues that important elements of this consensus need to be challenged if the UK is to fulfil the laudable ambitions outlined in the Leitch Review and succeed in harnessing the talents of the whole population.
from : markfuller
30th January 2007
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DTI paper: Tackling the Low Skills Equilibrium
Interesting paper.
Focusses on: difference between individual employer goals and wider social goals
Argues: increasing supply of skills not enough, influencing product/business strategies key.
from : duncanoleary
16th January 2007
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SSDA: lessons for abroad (pdf)
Paper on lessons from abroad. Drawing on evidence from Canada it argues:
‘There is a danger that if the councils are only responsive to employer demands, then the government may fail to achieve its wider and long term objectives, such as to encourage the economy to move in the direction of higher value-added production, or knowledge industries, or to respond to social (equity) objectives'
from : duncanoleary
15th January 2007
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Cabinet office 2001 paper: 'In demand' (pdf)
Interesting paper, including a section on ways to increase the demand for skills (as well as to meet it) among individuals and employers.
from : duncanoleary
15th January 2007
