This document outlines plans for implementing the recommendations of the Leitch Review of Skills in England.  Of particular interest to those involved in career guidance are the points relating to supporting individuals in improving their skills and progression at work, including the references to a new adult careeers service with an emphasis on labour market focused guidance provision.  The following is an extract from page 10 of the executive summary of the report.

Supporting individuals to improve their skills and progress at work

We have to motivate many more adults to want to improve their skills and education, including the millions of people who left school with few or no qualifications.

In order to do this, we will have to clearly show individuals the link between getting economically valuable skills, and getting good jobs and progressing in their chosen career.  We will also work to remove any barriers related to a person’s age, race, gender or class, that may be preventing them from having fair and equal access to more training and education opportunities.

DIUS and DWP will work together to create a joined-up employment and skills system. We will merge the information nd advice services of learndirect and nextstep providers into a new universal adult careers service in England, working in partnership with Jobcentre Plus.  The new careers service will ensure that everyone is able to access the help they need to take stock of where they are in achieving their goals and ambitions, and to get the support they need to advance themselves and achieve their full potential.

Jobcentre Plus will work with the new adult careers service and the Learning and Skills Council to ensure that every customer gets the right balance between job search and training to improve their employability.

Flexible training for individuals will be offered in a way that can be combined with their job search and continued alongside work. Train to Gain brokerage and employer training funds will play an important part in supporting this objective.

We will pilot the new concept of ‘Skills Accounts’, which will give individuals greater ownership and choice over their learning, motivating them to gain skills and achieve qualifications, enter work and progress in employment

When they open a Skills Account, individuals will be able to access the full range of adult information, advice and guidance services in the new universal adult careers service. They will also receive an account number and account card, which will help people to understand the levels of investment going into their training, whether it’s coming from
them, their employer or the state

Skills Accounts, Jobcentre Plus and the new adult careers service will come together to provide customers with the seamless service they need to identify and access the right training and skills opportunities, at the right time.

Access the report from this link World Class Skills: Implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in England or download using the pdf file below

World Class Skills

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World Class Skills: Implementing the Leitch Review of Skills in England Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills by Command of Her Majesty July 2007 (DIUS)