Skills Pledge

Skills Pledge

What is the Skills Pledge?

The Skills Pledge is a voluntary commitment by the leadership of a company to support all of its employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy and to work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least NVQ Level 2 (equivalent to 5 good GCSEs).

What Is the Purpose of the Skills Pledge?

The purpose is to ensure that all staff are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the success of the company. Research shows that one of the keys to a productive, successful business is having a skilled and competent workforce. The Skills Pledge is an opportunity for the leaders of a business or organisation to show publicly and demonstrably the importance they place on investing in the skills of their people.

Why is the Skills Pledge important for the economy?

If the UK economy is to compete with other advanced economies, and the new emerging economies such as India and China, we will have to invest more in skills. The case was set out starkly in the Leitch Report on Skills, published in December 2006. Without a better skilled and qualified workforce, we will not improve our productivity, and therefore we will not sustain the living standards and quality of public services we all want. The Skills Pledge recognises that everyone – the employee, the organisation and the Government – will need to

invest more in skills.

Who Makes the Commitment to the Skills Pledge?

The Pledge can be given by the Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer, owner/manager or other Board member, on behalf of the organisation. It is a corporate commitment covering the whole company. For those employees who do not already have a full Level 2 qualification, the Government will provide funding to help them gain basic literacy and numeracy skills as well as their first full Level 2 qualification.

Who is Eligible?

The Skills Pledge is open to employers of all sizes in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

What am I committing to in making the Skills Pledge?

You are making a public commitment to enable your staff – in whichever way works best for you – to gain the basic skills and competencies that are valuable in supporting business needs and their future employability, and to achieve relevant qualifications to recognise those skills. The Skills Pledge is not a contractual commitment. It is not legally binding on the company/organisation. It does not confer any additional legal rights or status on an individual. It does not affect employment contracts. Its value is as a signal of voluntary commitment and partnership between management and employees to develop the skills of the staff and so support the success of the organisation.

Why is the core Skills Pledge focussed on basic skills and lower level qualifications?

Many employers will want to broaden the Skills Pledge to cover higher skills and qualifications as well, recognising that a successful economy needs far more than just basic skills and Level 2 qualifications.

To find out more information on the Skills Pledge, please click here

If you would like to commit to the Skills Pledge or require further information, please contact Cassie Cartwright on 0845 641 1570 or e-mail cassiec@hwchamber.co.uk