Consultation on upskilling the workforce

On 22 July 2010, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) launched a consultation paper, "Skills for Sustainable Growth". The consultation outlines seeks views on proposals for addressing the significant issue of an ever increasing unskilled workforce. Consultation closes on 14 October 2010.

The consultation proposes:

• An approach to skills as a "joint enterprise" with employers who will be asked to increase their investment in learning and development of required skills.

• Persistent skills gaps and shortages created by poor working conditions, employment terms and negative public perceptions of particular occupations must be tackled. In particular, employers must reduce their reliance on migrant workers.
  

The government intends to publish a full strategy for skills after the Spending Review in October.