Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett has announced the appointment of Nick Reilly as Chair of the Adult Learning Inspectorate.

A nationally respected business leader, Mr Reilly is Chairman and Managing Director of Vauxhall Motors and Vice President of the General Motors Corporation - the first Briton to be appointed a Vice President of General Motors.

The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI), which will be based in Coventry, will bring together the current arrangements for the inspection of adult education and work-based training into a single new system. Where the responsibilities of the new inspectorate overlap with the extended responsibilities of the schools inspectorate OFSTED, a single team of inspectors from both bodies will carry out the inspection and produce a single report under a common inspection framework.

Mr Blunkett said "I am very pleased that Nick Reilly has offered his services to improve the quality of adult education and training, through the establishment of the ALI. He will set the agenda for the new inspectorate and communicate this widely through his impressive network of business and training contacts.

Mr Reilly said "I am delighted to be taking on the role of chair at the ALI and look forward very much to working in concert with Bryan Sanderson at the new Learning and Skills Council. From my recent experience at the Training Standards Council, I am convinced that the combination of a rigorous quality improvement process and a proactive inspection system will ensure consistent, relevant and high quality learning experiences for all post 16 learners. I am also looking forward to working in partnership with OFSTED in area inspections and a number of college inspections; the joint work we have already done is a positive sign for the future. We must now concentrate on creating an outstanding inspectorate based on the good work being done today at the Further Education Funding Council and the Training Standards Council."