Five new Sector Skills Councils were announced today, and have been designated as trailblazers. They will take over from their respective National Training Organisations in March 2002. The new councils will give employers a greater say in planning and provision of skills in each sector.

The councils unveiled will work to develop training in:
- Retail;
- Land based industries (including farming, agriculture, forestry and rural development);
- Audio visual industries (broadcast, film, video and interactive media);
- Clothing, footwear and textiles;
- Petrochemical industries.

John Healey, minister for adult skills, said: "The proposals accepted for Trailblazer status represent a good spread of what we want to see in the new smaller, stronger UK-wide network of Sector Skills Councils coming on stream from next spring. All the Trailblazers represent a significant part of the UK economy, and have the backing of the top employers in the sector who are prepared to invest money in raising skills and productivity levels.

"I hope Sector Skills Councils will represent a major step towards the UK achieving a faster rise in productivity than our major competitors. The Department is ready to make a greater investment in Sector Skills Councils and give them the opportunity to develop greater influence over schools, colleges, learning providers and universities in their task of boosting skills and productivity.

"We want to see Councils covering all the key areas of both public and private sectors. We’re ready to invest up to £1million a year in each of the new Sector Skills Councils but we’re looking to lever in extra investment from employers and we’re setting tough standards we expect the Councils to meet. Now is the time for other employers to follow suit and go for Sector Skill Council status.”