Government Pledges to Boost Staff Skills

Leaders across central government have made a commitment that every eligible employee will be helped to gain basic skills and a level two qualification.
The commitment covers over 475,000 people working to deliver public services in 19 departments.
Sir Richard Mottram, Chairman of Government Skills, said: "I am delighted that these departments which together employ over 90% of those working for central government, and one and a half per cent of the entire UK workforce, have specifically committed to raise the skills and qualifications of their employees. This clearly signals the determination of the civil service to meet the skills challenge highlighted in the Leitch report on skills". Government Skills has now commissioned a skills survey across the entire sector.
Andrew McDonald, Chief Executive of Government Skills, said: “This survey will give us a very detailed picture of the current skills of employees which we can share with employers – and training providers – to enable us to plan more effectively the learning and development activity required both now and for the future. This is a vital part of our work to ensure employees within the public sector have the right skills to deliver effective public services."