NO - Andrew McNeilis, Chief commercial officer, Hudson
When the tax system is there to fund education, why should employersbear the brunt of the cost for training employees to a basic level?However, beyond this level, it's the duty of employers to train anddevelop their employees, to retain and motivate talented people. Forsome employers, however, the cost of implementing such programmes hasacted as a deterrent.But it's madness not to recognise that investmentnow will reap huge rewards in terms of productivity later. Governmentsupport and guidance is welcomed, but ultimate responsibility for vastlyimproving the UK's workforce skills must fall on each and everyemployer.
YES - Sarah Goldsbrough. Human resources manager, ClearviewCommunications
According to the Leitch report, the UK is 'on track to achieveundistinguished mediocrity' if it fails to upgrade the skills of itsworkforce by 2020. While this is a stark warning, the call to action isa timely one. No employer or business can afford to let its skillsstagnate - and that applies to employees too. We welcome Leitch'srecommendation that further investment be made in the LSC's Train toGain service. Core skills are an area that requires critical attention.More than a third of adults in the UK do not have a basic schoolqualification. Remaining competitive is dependent on the skillsavailable within your company and making sure these are kept fresh.
NO - Dina Knight, HR director, Northgate
The review offers a vision for 2020 and a framework for delivery and assuch it is a welcome contribution to the pressing debate on the need forworld-class skills. Key to success will be the ability to respond andadapt to changing skills requirements and for this the increasedinvolvement of employers is critical. However, the review itself admitsthe targets are ambitious and it remains to be seen whether the proposedframework is able to deliver them. While it recognises there are anumber of individuals without adequate qualifications, there is nospecific action plan suggested in terms of rollout and as to how itsaims will be achieved.
NO - Jim Hillage, Director of research, Institute of EmploymentStudies
The proposed measures are welcome, but insufficient to meet theambitious policy goals. Improved skills are only part of the solutionfor improving productivity, and individuals need more than justtechnical or generic skills to get jobs. The review tackles importantbarriers preventing people developing their skills, such as inflexibletraining delivery or the time and money it takes to train. But there'snot much aimed at changing employers' and individuals' negativeattitudes towards learning. Finally the review says little aboutencouraging older workers to take up training - by removing the biastowards young people - or about management and leadership capability.
