The Sector Skills Council (SSC) has unveiled plans to improve skills standards in food and drink manufacturing.

Prepared for January 2007, the Sector Skills Action plan (SSA) will explain how to improve the employability of potential workers in the industry and address the sector’s skills weaknesses to improve performance in the area.

Chief Executive of Improve, the body responsible for co-ordinating efforts to put in place the required additional training, Jack Matthews said: “The SSA will be the live, overarching guide that determines the entire programme of skills development in the sector. The task of devising, managing implementation, and continuously developing the Sector Skills Action plan is without doubt our most important function.

“At its launch it will be the culmination of a year of extensive research and consultation with representatives of employers, public and private training providers, and government departments, all of whom will have to agree the plan before it can be implemented.

The SSC is establishing a National Skills Academy, introducing a green card passport to skills, revamping apprenticeship frameworks and establishing a new qualifications system.

“This is the first time that the sector has had the opportunity to have a properly co-ordinated plan to boost skills in order to drive up productivity and profitability. So far the response to our initiatives from all parties involved has been excellent, and we are working extremely hard to ensure that the training provision is properly reformed to address the needs of employers,” said Matthews.