IITT Chief Executives welcomes Leitch Review on Skills
Colin Steed, chief executive of the Institute of IT Training, has welcomed the Leitch Review on Skills to 2020.
'I am delighted to see the Leitch review's focus on the critical importance of higher level skills and increased employer involvement in the design of skills and training. The UK faces immense challenges in today's global business environment but, of course, that presents us all with some exciting opportunities.'
Steed said that the report also recommends that private firms 'pledge' to train more staff at work - something the Institute has long called for. If firms fail to undertake such training voluntarily the report calls for workers to be given a statutory right to workplace training.
'I thoroughly welcome moves to encourage firms to spend more on skills development but rather than the heavy handed approach taken I would rather see employers given incentives like tax relief to encourage them to spend more on training. We have been asking Government for that for many years,' he said.
'But, of course, all of this means that the skills of our training professionals must be continuously developed too. All too often this is forgotten, and this has got to stop now or else this report will just be another well-meaning publication that adds to the pile gathering dust.'
Steed continued that it is imperative that the Government work with professional bodies, educators and employers to continually raise the level and standards of skills. 'It always amazes me how our world-class training providers are overlooked whilst Government consult academic providers. I challenge anyone to show that our accredited training providers have nothing to offer. We have the best training providers in the world and yet no-one consults them. It's scandalous.'
Steed said: 'The Institute of IT Training has been at the forefront of raising standards and quality of training since 1995 and I urge Government to use the wealth of experience, high standards and quality excellence that our members possess to help see the plans in the Leitch Review through.'
To access the full report : www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/leitch.