The CIPD has released a report saying that policies inspired by the Government-commissioned Leitch Report on skills are failing to make an impact with employers. More than half of organisations say their learning and development work has not yet been influenced by the Government’s skills agenda, while just 13% have signed the Employer Skills Pledge.
But the Government, which later this year releases its own report on its skills policies, insists it has made significant progress.
“Since 2001, 4.7 million adult learners have taken up 10.5 million Skills for Life learning opportunities,” said a Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills spokesperson. “Going forward, the Government is increasing funding for adult skills and apprenticeships to £4.3 billion a year by 2011."
Victoria Winkler, CIPD’s learning and development adviser, said: “There appears to be more work to be done to convince employers that the Government has the right answers to the problem. There is a disconnect between what Government is offering employers and what they feel they need.”
