Semta backs call for strong sector-driven skills system
Semta, the Sector Skills Council
(SSC) for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies
welcomes the report ‘Learning to Change – Why the UK skills system
must do better’ published today by EEF and supports its call for a
sector-driven approach to skills.
Semta chief executive, Philip Whiteman, comments: “As we await
the publication of the Leitch Review of Skills final report, EEF’s
well-stated report makes a valuable contribution to the UK skills
and training agenda. To fully engage employers of all sizes in
identifying and meeting their skills needs, there has to be an
uncluttered sector-based landscape and a closer connection between
policymakers and employers as consumers of training.”
Evidence in the report of increased training spend among
manufacturing employers is encouraging, making it all the more
essential to secure high-quality training that targets
sector-specific requirements. Clearer signposting to sources of
good training that improves productivity and delivers bottom-line
benefits is also needed to ensure the maximum return
on training investment.
“Semta has worked, and continues to work closely with employers
in our sector to identify the skills they need to become world
class. We expect policy makers to create a world class
infrastructure that delivers on these skills needs. We have made
considerable progress, with clear evidence that the sectoral
approach works in practice, yet we are aware of the difficulties
that smaller companies in particular have in engaging with the
current system for skills,” Whiteman adds. “A clearer Government
focus on the sector-based, employer-led approach to skills
development would help boost the involvement of the large number of
SMEs so vital to engineering and manufacturing. Eliminating
existing duplication and reducing waste have to be key steps in
making us more efficient at skilling our workforce and ultimately
helping the UK to compete effectively in the global
marketplace.”
Ends
Media contact: Elaine Essery, tel: 01229 716129, email:
Elaine Essery
Notes to editors:
As a Sector Skills Council licensed by government, Semta is the
employer-led organisation at the heart of the skills agenda for
Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies in the UK. The
sectors we represent are: Aerospace, Automotive, Bioscience,
Electrical, Electronics, Maintenance, Marine, Mathematics,
Mechanical, Metals, Engineered Metal Products and Science. Our role
is to raise skills levels and competitiveness in the 100,000
companies and 2 million-strong workforce that make up these
sectors.