Young is spearheading the campaign For Business, For Life in an attempt to make employers aware of funding for £50 million worth of training from the EU’s European Social fund. The UK government has pledged to match the funding offered for each learner.
Young told HR magazine the campaign is designed in part to remove the "stigma" of employees admitting at work that they need help with literacy and numeracy.
“It’s particularly pronounced with literacy,” he said. “Ways that it’s possible to reduce this include embedding the teaching of literacy skills into wider workplace learning programmes. That way staff members don’t have to be seen asking specifically for help in this area.”
He added that he likes to see this as a “supplement” to standard education, but in some places the teaching may be necessary due to failings in the education system.
“There are so many people in work now who lack these basic skills,” he continued. “I know the CBI feels this is also an issue among some of its members. Some people may have slipped through the net at school and others may have simply forgotten the basic skills that they learned.”
A consortium of colleges and training providers has been formed with the express purpose of promoting the campaign. It also has the backing of union TUC.
