Skills for Business and UK voluntary sector organisations have signed a pact to boost skills development.

The agreement means that Skills for Business and vountary bodies will work closely more closely together to promote skills development and good employment practices.

According to Skills for Business, it will affect the 560,000 paid employees and 11 million unpaid regular adult volunteers.

Christopher Duff, Chief Executive of the Sector Skills Development Agency, said: "The Skills for Business network acknowledges the very significant contribution that volunteers play in our communities and we feel that their personal skills and development should not be overlooked. We are extremely pleased to have reached this agreement with the VCS and look forward to working more closely together."

The Skills for Business network is made up of 21 Sector Skills Councils, with voluntary organisations playing a role in 13 of them. Skills for Business said that their network covers approximately 70% of the voluntary and community sector workforce.

The voluntary bodies involved in the memorandum of understanding are: National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and Wales Council for Voluntary Action.