Department Business Innovation and Skills

Department for Business Innnovation and Skills (BIS)

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has merged with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) to form the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). BIS has seven ministers, led by First Secretary of State, Lord Mandelson. A government spokesman said "The merger will create a single department committed to building Britain's future economic strengths. To compete in a global economy and create the jobs of the future Britain requires a regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and world-class science and research. The merger of BERR and DIUS brings together the parts of the government with key expertise in these areas" It combines BERR's strengths in shaping the enterprise environment, analysing the strengths and needs of the various parts of British industry, building strategies for industrial strength and expertise in better regulation with DIUS's expertise in maintaining world class universities, expanding access to higher education, investing in the UK's science base and shaping skills policy and innovation through bodies such as the Technology Strategy Board. It also puts the UK's Further Education system and universities closer to the heart of government thinking about building now for the upturn". http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page19525 NATECLA comment It’s very early to predict how this will affect ESOL. Early indications are that the policy focus on skills and employability remains. We will need to be watchful that the new department gives recognition and support to other types of learning which promote inclusion and provide support for vulnerable adults, and be ready to respond to any new policy direction. UCU comment http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=3920 Association of Colleges comment http://www.aoc.co.uk/ NIACE comment http://www.niace.org.uk/new-department-established-for-adult-education

External Link: http://www.dius.gov.uk