Proskills calls on David Lammy for consistency

A more consistent approach is needed by government towards skills development, the board of Proskills told Minister for Skills David Lammy this week, in light of a recent softening on the strict separation of training and awarding bodies.

The call comes as a review by consultants begins over the possible restructuring of the extractive industry’s EMP awarding body and the training arm EPIC to assess the viability of them working together under a single organization or whether to keep them as separate entities.

Initially the two were split as the government viewed training and awarding functions as needing to be separate to avoid any conflict of interest. However, recent studies into UK skills have led to the government almost doing a U-turn on the issue.

A senior member of the Quarry Products Association (QPA) told MQR that industry wanted to see the training/awarding body issue resolved by the end of the year: “I think it is reasonable to expect this in the interests of clarity,” he said.

The uncertainty comes as the Sector Skills Council announced a £62million pot of funding for its members – covering extractives, paper, glass, printing, furniture, coatings and building products – for firms signing up to a skills pledge. Its Sustainable Workforce Pledge commits signatories to improving the competence of new and existing employees, and of providing minimum levels of health and safety training for all staff.

Signatories also have to provide employees with the opportunity and support to work towards basic literacy and numeracy skills and achieve a level 2 qualification. Also, where appropriate, they have to work towards an industry standard entry-level of competence based on the apprenticeship model.

Other duties include ensuring operatives, supervisors and managers are trained to a relevant N/SVQ or equivalent level and promote that all contractors should hold, as a minimum, a Contractors' Safety Passport.

In return, those companies that sign the pledge will get access to a share of the £62million and a more flexible Train to Gain offer with the possibility of second level 2 and 3 qualifications being part or fully funded.

Roseanne Hayward, current acting MD of Epic and Proskills’ extractives champion, said the new pledge was a chance for companies to show publicly the importance they place on the skills of their people.