Skills blueprint includes unions

Unions' role in helping to tackle skills shortages has been acknowledged in a new skills development blueprint announced by the government.

Under the scheme, employers are being invited to identify skills shortages, develop schemes to tackle them and set up a UK-wide network of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) which will replace National Training Organisations from March 2002.

Announcing the new scheme in October, education and skills secretary Estelle Morris said: "We want employers to be centre stage in decisions about skills. They are best placed to identify where there are gaps in the skills of their workforce and equally well placed to create strategies to close these gaps."

The government regards unions as being central to the success of the new SSCs. Morris went on to say: "I want to see SSCs working in partnership with other organisations such as trade unions, Regional Development Agencies and Learning and Skills Councils to improve the standard of vocational training and workforce development."

A shadow Sector Skills Development Agency has been set up which will announce the "trailblazer councils that will set the standard for the rest" by the end of the year.