Can we improve workplace skills in the UK?

The government has released a new plan for how to reform the state of skills in the UK while an industry group is calling for the issue to be front-and-centre during the coming election.

The white paper, Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work, published today by the Department for Education and Skills, calls for closer cooperation with employers to determine the best ways to meet the needs of the workforce.

As part of this effort, it is setting up a new National Employer Training Programme (NETP) which will provide public funds for workplace training as deemed necessary by employers.

The department will also aid adults who want to retrain for career advancement and improve capacity of existing colleges and training suppliers.

The report singles out skills in information and communications technology (ICT), saying: "The pervasiveness of ICT, both at work and for leisure purposes, means that functional competence in using ICT needs to be counted as an essential skill for the modern world."

The government calls for the improvement of ICT education across schools' curriculum and particularly for 14-to-19 year olds, while adults can receive ICT training though venues such as the government-backed learndirect facility.

As for certification, the report points to e-skills UK's Passport, a means of compiling individuals' ICT skills and certifications as well as to the group's efforts to develop new ICT degree programmes with various universities.

The government also highlights the need to provide internet and computer access for people who do not have these facilities at home, which it says it does in 6,000 libraries, community centres and colleges.

In response to the white paper, Karen Price, CEO of e-skills UK, said in a statement: "The skills white paper gives unprecedented influence to employers and for the first time puts them in the driving seat in determining what qualifications they need and how they should be delivered. We welcome it wholeheartedly."

While Price said e-skills "welcomes" the National Employer Training Programme, she added: "The future of business in the UK depends upon its ability to exploit IT effectively for competitive advantage - and this requires skills at a much higher level. We will be focusing on developing these skills in our work with employers, educators and government."

The parliamentary-industry group European Information Society Group (EURIM) is also hoping to affect workplace skills.

In its Election Manifesto, released today, EURIM named ten issues it would like to see addressed in the coming election, one of which was "enabling students (of any age, including those in work) to acquire and maintain the skills they need, where and when they need them".

While the political debate tends to focus on teenagers going to university, the manifesto said the greater need is to retain working adults and keep their skills up-to-date.

EURIM's recommended actions include requiring public-funded courses to prove market demand for their services, providing resources to regional skills councils to conduct research on which skills are most needed and exempting those undergoing professional training from national insurance and income tax.