Employer champions promote basic-skills training

Citation

(2003), "Employer champions promote basic-skills training", Journal of European Industrial Training, Vol. 27 No. 8. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeit.2003.00327hab.006

Employer champions promote basic-skills training

Employer champions promote basic-skills training

UK business leaders will work with the government to raise awareness among employers of the importance of raising skills at all levels of their workforce.

Announcing a new team of "employer champions" to promote adult basic-skills training in the workplace, education and skills secretary Charles Clarke urged leading business figures to take advantage of free government training and support for low-skilled employees to improve productivity.

"Our new employer champions will give a real boost to employers and switch them on to the economic and personal value of basic-skills training", said Mr Clarke. Business leaders listen to their peers and our champions are respected figures who are committed to training their workforce. I would like to thank them for finding the time to spread the message that training brings real individual and business benefits.

"While many business leaders see the importance of improving the skills of their workforce, they often do not have the resources to do so. Our literacy, numeracy and language training is completely free to the employer and the employee."

Steven Broomhead, one of 20 employer champions, and chief executive designate of the North-West Development Agency, said: "The campaign is a great opportunity for employers really to make an effort to encourage employees to improve their skill set and reach their full potential. The importance of skills cannot be underrated as an effective tool on which to build a successful economy."