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'Skills in England 2005', produced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), summarises the key developments in England's skill base over the last 12 months by pulling together the latest evidence on the supply of, and demand for, skills. It is presented in three volumes. This volume is the main research report. Key messages highlighted in this report include: skills development has taken place in a weakening economy, although the rate of slowdown has been modest and has not adversely affected the demand for labour or skills; the skills base of the country is increasingly recognised as not only a means to increase productivity and competitiveness, but an important means of achieving social cohesion through improving the employability of those at the margins of the labour market; there is a continuing demand for higher-level skills; the supply side is undergoing a period of reform with the introduction of the National Employer Training Programme, which will provide subsidised training to employees via their employers; the supply side also faces the challenge of an ageing workforce which potentially limits supply; on the other hand, inward migration has recently boosted supply, although this brings with it new problems; evidence on the current mismatch between demand and supply shows that skill shortage vacancies have been steady at around three per cent of employment over recent years, but where they occur, they can be damaging to organisational performance; the reported level of skill shortages and skill gaps reported by employers remain a source of concern; and management skills have been highlighted as one area where there is a particular need for improvement.

The three volumes are indexed from TD/TNC 87.447 to TD/TNC 87.449. Show less

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding and planning post-16 education and training in England. This workforce development strategy describes how the LSC will achieve its responsibility to raise skill levels and the demand for learning, and engage employers in improving skills for employability and national competitiveness. The strategy has been developed in consultation with government and key partners at national, regional and local levels. The strategy comprises the following approach: (1) to raise informed demand for employment-related skills among individuals and employers; (2) to support improvements to the responsiveness and flexibility of the supply side of skills; and (3) to contribute to the development of an underpinning framework of better skills and labour market information, responsive vocational qualifications, and improved links to the wider educational agenda. Show less

This review of existing research evidence pulls together information from four Learning and Skills Council reports on issues surrounding migrant workers and the labour market. The review also includes some references to work on the subject by other organisations. The paper covers the key issues of labour market participation, skills and skills provision, but it also covers contextual information such as stocks and flows, drivers of migration and the provision of education and training.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less

This document contains the Learning and Skills Council's (LSC's) priorities and key actions for 2006-07. The six priorities are: (1) ensure that all 14-19 year olds have access to high quality, relevant learning opportunities; (2) make learning truly demand-led so that it better meets the needs of employers, young people and adults; (3) transform the learning and skills sector through agenda for change; (4) strengthen the role of the LSC in economic development so that we provide the skills needed to help all individuals into jobs and lifelong employability; (5) improve the skills of the workers who are delivering public services; and (6) strengthen the capacity of the LSC to lead change nationally, regionally and locally. Show less

The UK government’s 2003 Skills Strategy (indexed at TD/IRD 88.169) set out its vision to transform the national investment in skills. It outlined the rights and responsibilities of the government, providers, employers and individuals in securing the skills needed for a high performing economy and a fairer society. This consultation paper contains proposals for bringing about the changes needed to ensure that public investment is applied where it will secure the greatest benefits and that employers and individuals also contribute in line with the benefits they receive. The contents are: The need for change and priorities for public funding; Proposed approach and levers for change; Putting the new approach into operation; Developing financial support for adult learners; Next steps. Included as appendices are: Questions for consultation; Addresses of local Learning and Skills Councils. Show less

The 2003 National Employers Skills Survey (NESS) [the main report is available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 79.599] revealed severe skills shortages and gaps at all levels of employment in the UK, with employers regarding one in 10 employees as being incompetent. This guide offers practical advice on how employers can tackle the critical issues highlighted by the NESS survey. Its key message is that businesses need to acknowledge the skills shortages or gaps and adopt a systematic approach to upskilling their workforce. The contents are: Mind the gap; How did we get there?; Aligning skills to business strategy; Carrying out a skills audit; Developing a skills strategy; Upskilling your existing workforce; Attracting new talent; Trouble at the top?; Measuring progress; Giving as well as receiving; Where do we go from here? Show less

The National Employer Skills Survey (NESS) is the largest of its kind ever commissioned, and aims to investigate the extent, causes and implications of England's recruitment problems and skills gaps, and at the same time measure employers' training activities. The Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) commissioned reports from a number of Sector Skills Councils, and this report summarises the NESS 2003 for Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector. This sector has a broad coverage, but for the purposes of this report only three broad clusters are focused upon: environmental industries, animal health and welfare, and land management and production. The overwhelming majority of establishments in this field are micro-businesses, with 94% employing fewer than five people. Due to survey restrictions, self-employed sole-proprietors were not included in the data, though many exist in the Lantra field, and 445 interviews were conducted in total. Employers were asked about specific skills they require now and skills they expected to be required in three years time. The two main occupations in this sector are identified as managers or proprieters in agriculture, and skilled agricultural tradespeople. For the former, communication, customer handling, numeracy, literacy and teamworking skills were all identified as important, while in the case of skilled trades, technical and practical skills are needed at an advanced level. The report also considers the extent of recruitment difficulties and skill gaps, and finds that: 56 per cent of establishments in the lifelong learning sector face hard-to-fill vacancies; 27 per cent of establishments suffer from internal skill gaps, with staff being regarded as less than fully proficient; vacancies and skill gaps are most common amongst skilled trades and elementary occupations, reflecting the importance of technical skills to this sector; the main causes of skill gaps are primarily perceived to be due to staff having a lack of experience; the main causes of hard-to-fill vacancies are a lack of interest in this type of work, and a low number of applicants with the required skills; and the most common skills lacking in applicants are technical and practical skills, communication skills, management skills and problem solving skills. Barriers to developing and maintaining a proficient team of staff in the Lantra sector are identified as including: lack of time for training for those with skill gaps; a lack of cover for training; and a lack of funds for training. The report also considers issues associated with employer engagement in developing their workforce. Show less

Skills in England 2007 provides an up-to-date assessment of the skills arena. It highlights the key skills issues facing the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and its partners, based on a comprehensive review of developments and of the evidence that has emerged over the past year. The report highlights that collectively, the LSC and its partners must continue to find ways to increase the demand for skills from employers and ensure that everyone, whether an employer or an individual, is able to access the learning opportunities that are suitable for them.

Four volumes have been produced: 1. Key Messages: outlining key findings and policy implications; 2. Research Report: providing in-depth analysis; 3. Sectoral Perspectives: providing insights across industry; 4. Regional/Local Perspectives: summarising the geographical situation.

Volume 1: Key Messages sets out the main findings and broad policy implications stemming from the research undertaken and reviewed for Skills in England 2007. It highlights the key issues facing the LSC and its partners, with a view to helping identify the key priorities for skills.

Excerpt from publication reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.

Volumes 2-4 are indexed from TD/TNC 91.283 to TD/TNC 91.285. Show less

'Skills in England 2005', produced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in partnership with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), summarises the key developments in England's skill base over the last 12 months by pulling together the latest evidence on the supply of, and demand for, skills. It is presented in three volumes. This volume contains a set of regional and local profiles that summarise the economic and labour market context for each locality. A summary table showing comparable information on demographic characteristics, employment indicators, sectoral structure, indicators of skill deficiencies, and unemployment rate is presented for each regional development agency (RDA) and local LSC area.

The three volumes are indexed from TD/TNC 87.477 to TD/TNC 87.449. Show less

'Skills in England 2004', the fourth annual national skills assessment produced by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), provides a synthesis of the latest evidence that is available on the demand for, and supply of, skills in England. Its main aims and objectives are to identify current and future skills problems and deficiencies. It is presented in four volumes: volume one contains the key messages and provides an overview of the research findings in the other three volumes; volume two, the main research report, contains information on the demand for, and supply of, skills as well as mismatches between demand and supply; and volumes three and four provide evidence related to industrial sector, and regional and local trends respectively. This document is the index to the four volumes.

The four volumes are indexed from TD/TNC 82.395 to TD/TNC 82.398. Show less