WYCC spells out its commitment to the Skills
Pledge

West Yorkshire colleges sign up to the Skills Pledge

Yorkshire’s further education sector has been given a skills boost as all 15 colleges in West Yorkshire have signed up to the Skills Pledge. This landmark undertaking will see the colleges commit to developing the skills of their own employees.

The Skills Pledge is a national campaign that encourages organisations in all sectors to support employees in learning and developing their skills in order to be more effective in the workplace. By signing up to the Skills Pledge, the West Yorkshire colleges have access to support, advice and funding through the LSC and a variety of training providers.

The colleges are all part of the West Yorkshire College Consortium. This brings together colleges of all sizes and specialisms in the district, providing a platform to collaborate and share advice and best practice in order to offer top quality learning opportunities and to nurture links with local communities and employers.

Peter Ryder, chair of West Yorkshire College Consortium, said: “The West Yorkshire colleges are pleased to support the Skills Pledge. This demonstrates our commitment to having a fully trained and highly skilled workforce, supporting businesses and communities across the region in developing the skills we all need to compete in an increasingly competitive and changing world.”

By making the Skills Pledge, organisations receive one-to-one impartial advice from experts to identify training which will be of real, practical value to their employees. As a voluntary commitment, organisations fulfil the Skills Pledge in their own time and in their own way, from training employees in basic literacy and numeracy skills through to NVQ Level 2 and beyond.

In return, employers reap the benefits by enjoying more confident and motivated staff, greater loyalty and increased productivity.

David Hodges, regional skills director for the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “In signing up to the Skills Pledge, the West Yorkshire colleges are helping to champion skills development in further education and to put skills and the achievement of qualifications on the ‘must do’ list of every individual and employer. As the gateway to skills and training advice for all employers, the Skills Pledge is significant to organisations of all sizes and in all sectors, from colleges and training providers through to the region’s largest businesses.

“By making the promise to help employees to achieve their full potential, employers send out a strong message of commitment to providing excellence in the workplace and being an employer of choice. It’s pleasing to see that West Yorkshire’s colleges are among some of the first to get onboard.”

So far, more than 350 organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber, including 26 colleges, have signed the Skills Pledge and made the commitment to advancing skills in their workplace. These organisations are set to benefit greatly from raising the skills levels of their employees. Research from the LSC shows that a typical 50-employee company could save £165,000 every year by making sure that staff have the right skills for their jobs with access to further learning and training opportunities. (Learning and Skills Council research, 2005)

Employers who make a commitment to the Skills Pledge can find support from Skills Brokers, as part of the LSC’s Train to Gain service. Skills Brokers offer employers an analysis of their business needs, training advice, and support in developing a bespoke programme with the right training provider and also to explore whether funding is available.

For more information visit www.lsc.gov.uk/skillspledge or call 0800 015 55 45