Skills Pledge is a recipe for success in Yorkshire and the Humber

(L-R) Barrett Steel employee,
Kristoff Kozaczuk, James Averdieck from Gu,
David Hodges from the LSC and Barrett
Steel’s Ashley Heeley and Andy Garbett

The LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber celebrated the first anniversary of the Skills Pledge with a tour of some of the region's employers.

The tour was designed to showcase some of Yorkshire and the Humber's ‘skills-savvy' employers who have realised that an investment in the skills of its workforce can increase the success and profitability of their organisations.

Joined by Yorkshire-born entrepreneur James Averdieck, founder and managing director of the well-known luxury chocolate pudding makers Gü, the LSC visited a cross-section of employers who have all made the Skills Pledge. These employers, by making a public declaration of their intent to upskill their workforce through the Skills Pledge, have access to support, advice and funding through training providers and the LSC.

On the tour James, and the LSC visited Barrett Steel in Bradford, Licentia Cleaning Services in Driffield and met with restaurant staff at the Best Western Monkbar hotel in York. The tour also took in Foster's Bakery in Barnsley and the St James's Teaching Hospital in Leeds.

(L-R) Angela Aplin, James Averdieck from
Gu, David Hodges from the LSC, Tim Gilpin
from the Strategic HealthAuthority and St
James’ housekeeper, Mavis Borras

Pudding guru James was also given a lesson in chocolate cake-making by the children of The Ark childcare centre in Hebden Bridge.

He commented: "To achieve any kind of success in life it is vital to constantly develop your knowledge and learn new skills. It is important that good employers, like the ones I've met in this region, recognise this by training their staff to reach their full potential. It not only helps individuals to grow, but also helps improve the success of their business."

The Skills Pledge is a national initiative aimed at encouraging employers of all sizes and in all sectors to commit to training their employees, from basic literacy and numeracy skills through to NVQ Level 2 and beyond. It is a visible signal to employees, partners and clients of a commitment to providing excellence in the workplace.

David Hodges, regional skills director for the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "We want to make skills a key talking point and put skills, and particularly the achievement of qualifications, on the ‘must do' list of every individual and employer. We want employers to know that the Skills Pledge makes a lasting impression on their business and their bottom line.

(L-R) Foster’s Bakery’s Clare Taylor, Sarah
Carmody and Michael Taylor with Nick
Wilson from the LSC, Gu’s James Averdieck
and David Glover, also from Foster’s Bakery

"The Skills Pledge goes to the heart and soul of a business or organisation. There are huge advantages for the employer, employees and for the region in raising skills levels. Employers like the ones we visited on this tour are playing a vital role in leading the way to help change attitudes to training and skills in the workplace and by committing to the future development of staff through training, are enhancing their reputation as a credible organisation and employer of choice."

Research undertaken with 800 of the first 1,300 organisations to make the Skills Pledge nationally revealed that 83% felt it helped them make a public commitment to training and 63% are already providing more training opportunities than before.

Employers that make a commitment to the Skills Pledge can find support in offering skills development and training for their employees with Skills Brokers, as part of the LSC's Train to Gain service. The Train to Gain Skills Brokers provide free and impartial guidance and support to help employers to assess their training and skills needs and to access flexible, work-based training, including selecting the right training providers and accessing funding.

For more information visit www.lsc.gov.uk/skillspledge

Click the link above to watch a podcast from the event.