In England many establishments reported internal skill gaps. These establishments with skill gaps reported that they had difficulties:

• in delivering quality (46%)
• in meeting customer services (44%)

In Northern Ireland, establishments with skill gaps reported that they had difficulties:

• in delivering quality (88%)
• in meeting customer services (83%)
• with increased operating costs (49%)
• with technological change (51%)
• introducing new working practices (54%)
  

No data were available for Scotland and Wales.

Source: SSDA 2004. Based on the Employers Skills Survey

Training in ICT, management and basic skills as well as skills for service delivery and specialists were defined as priorities in the Workforce Development Plan for Central Government.

Actions to improve qualifications include:

• working towards the establishment of IT NVQs Level 2 and 3
• developing arrangements to help facilitate joint procurements of management training
• promoting the use of generic skills qualifications and modern apprenticeships
• mapping project management training and qualification
• promoting customer service S/NVQs and facilitating joint procurement

Source: CGNTO 2001a

Click here for the Local Government Recruitment and Retention Survey (January 2003).

Click here for a summary factsheet on the Professional Skills for Government published by HM Government (October 2004).

N.B. Available data include defence and social security sector statistics and is based on  the Employers Skills Survey and the Skills Monitoring Survey.