The report, 'Hiding the Wiring', assesses progress towards implementing ten recommendations for simplifying the skills system made by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills last year and found that of the 7,000 employers surveyed as part of the research, seven out of 10 have knowledge or experience of the country’s publicly-funded skills system. Interestingly, of these, 60% reported that gaining access to the support their business needs is reasonably easy and services are delivered professionally and of those who choose not to engage with the publicly-funded skills system, over half (51%) say they are put off by bureaucracy.

The report adds that: 'whilst we recognise good progress in relation to some of our themes, we are still clear that there is more to be done in a number of areas.  Progress to date has concentrated on presenting the system in a more accessible way to employers.  The next challenge is to continue work on a more fundamental simplification of the system, by designing simplicity into the system rather than designing complexity out.  Areas for particular attention include preventing re-proliferation of brands and initiatives, reducing the complexity of funding and contracting regimes and increasing the speed of progress on qualifications reform.'

It also notes that the recession has had an adverse impact on attempts to simplify the skills system, adding: 'During the course of our research, there have however been a number of new initiatives, largely related to the need for action to reduce the impact of the recession.  Whilst this is understandable, there will be a need to ensure the growth of new brands and initiatives does not continue.'

Chris Humphries CBE, chief executive of the UK Commission, explained: “The direction of travel endorsed by both the government and the UK Commission is to de-clutter the skills landscape and put the customer – whether that’s the employer or learner – at the heart of the system by introducing better, more accessible, information about the quality of provision. We also need to reduce the burden of paperwork and administration without compromising front-line services, and resist the temptation to tinker with the system by introducing short-term initiatives and programmes.”