Member Article

Region's businesses back skills pledge

A challenge by the government for businesses to sign a pledge to improve the basic skills of their workforces has been supported by business organisations in the North East. The pledge is to support all their employees to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills and work towards a full Level 2 qualification, equivalent to five good GCSEs.

EEF Northern, the manufacturers’ organisation, has said that it believes investing in training is vital as part of the drive to improve the North East’s productivity performance.

Alan Hall, Director of EEF Northern, said: “Investing in workforce training is not just good practice in a modern economy but vital if the North East is to improve its productivity and competitiveness. By signing up to the ‘skills pledge’ employers can demonstrate that they are committed to the training and development of their employees.”

Sarah Green, Regional Director of the Confederation of British Industries, said: “We live in an era of rapid global expansion and a commitment to raising skills is essential if the North East is to maintain its competitiveness. CBI North East is pleased to support and encourage member companies to sign the Pledge as it makes it clear that this is a three-way partnership between employers, employees and the Government. “The Government is right to focus its resources on those who lack basic skills to ensure that everyone has the chance to become literate, numerate and more employable and it is right for Government to take financial responsibility for the investment needed to tackle these market failures.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .