The launch of employer-led Sector Skills Councils like SummitSkills will help the Government to achieve its aim to increase the UK's productivity and profitability across all sectors of the economy.
Sector Skills Councils (SSC), of which the m&e industry's SummitSkills is one of the first, are to be a major plank in the Government's drive to increase the productivity of the UK. This was confirmed by Charles Clarke, secretary of state for education and skills, at the official launch of SummitSkills in London on 22 March.

Clarke said: "Developing the country's skills base is key to us realising this aim. I have no doubt that SummitSkills will be able to lay the groundwork for employers to train and employ the staff and craftspeople they need, where and when they are needed. This will ensure skill shortages and skills gaps are a thing of the past. We need the skills of your sector, we need to attract young people, and we need to ensure once they are in the area they will progress."

Construction minister Nigel Griffiths emphasised the value of the sector to the UK economy: "The building services sector makes a £20 billion contribution to the economy per year...that's allowed 40 hospitals to be built and 55 000 extra nurses to work." But he reminded delegates at the launch that, to achieve the goals set for the SSC, work must be done in partnership with the Government and Clarke's department.

SummitSkills chair Simon Bartley commented: "SummitSkills is an employer-led organisation. It is about bringing people into the industry and training them. Without employers it is impossible to train."

A new advice and guidance initiative was announced at the launch. The SummitSkills Careers Advice Line (freephone: 0800 068 8336) is a joint initiative between SummitSkills and University for Industry Learndirect. Running from 1 April, the service is available throughout the UK, seven days a week and will focus on providing guidance on training, education and career progression across all the industries within the building services sector. SummitSkills chief executive Keith Marshall said: "It will prove a very useful resource to all those looking to join or progress within our sector, while also generating statistics which will help plan the direction for future training."

Regional launches of SummitSkills are planned for Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.

Source

Electrical and Mechanical Contractor

Postscript

Keith Marshall gives an insight into his work within SummitSkills in our new A week in the life series.