The new UK Commission for Employment and Skills has set out its mission to improve skills, employment and productivity.
UKCES will advise government on employment and skills strategy; targets; policies; and progress towards the challenging competitiveness goals set by the 2006 Leitch Report, including the vision of an 80% employment rate by 2020.
It has already been asked by the government to report on crucial issues, such as the employability skills that employers need for future economic success, how UK employers can use skills to become more globally competitive, whether a statutory entitlement to training is appropriate and whether further institutional change is required to deliver better integrated employment and skills services.
The Commission will also fund and manage the performance and re-licensing of the 25 employer-led Sector Skills Councils who ensure a powerful voice for employers on current and future skills needs and will help determine the targets, policies and progress necessary to our ambition of world class skill levels by 2020.
UKCES supersedes two government-funded agencies - the Sector Skills Development Agency and the National Employment Panel - which closed on 31 March.
The establishment of the UKCES was a key recommendation of the Leitch Report, 'Prosperity for all in the global economy – word class skills'. It is chaired by Sir Michael Rake, chair of BT, who leads a group of 20 highly influential commissioners, including Richard Lambert, Director General of the CBI and Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC.
