New occupational standards for leadership are hoped to raise the skills of UK managers.
The Management Standards Centre, part of the Chartered Management Institute, devised the standards in response to Government-backed studies showing that poor management is holding back the UK economy.
Designed to provide a framework for managers and their employers to follow, the new standards cover 47 skills topics, including newly identified skill priority areas such as innovation, risk management and diversity.
It is hoped they will help employers and employees see the value of management qualifications as they will be more simply mapped to the standards.
Ivan Lewis MP, Minister for Skills and Vocational Education, said that the standards would help employers recruit and train the two million new managers they need by 2012.
"Employers report currently that one in three managers are not fully proficient to perform effectively in their job, lacking in particular some of the skills needed to develop a culture of high productivity," he said.
Between now and March 2005 the Skills for Business Network, and the 25 sector skills councils, will work with MSC to engage with employers, professional and awarding bodies to identify early adopters and produce case studies.
Mary Chapman, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said there was a clear need to improve the skills and competency levels of UK managers.
"The new Standards for leadership and management, should help organisations and individuals work together to create a demand for better management and a culture in which management development is a key priority," she added.
