Skills for Sustainable Growth consultation.

Skills for Sustainable Growth outlines BIS’s vision for skills and seeks views on key areas of policy, including adult and community learning Employers, individuals, colleges, local authority education services, training organisations, voluntary sector organisations and representative organisations are invited to share their ideas on further education policy for the future. The skills consultation is available to read at www.bis.gov.uk/skills-consultation Closing date 14 October 2010 A Simplified Further Education and Skills Funding System and Methodology seeks views on simplifying the funding system. The Further Education and Skills Funding is available at http://bis.gov.uk/FE-funding-consultation Closing date: 14 October 2010 The consultation document 'Skills for Sustainable Growth' outlines BIS’s vision for skills and what are expected to be the key elements of a strategy for delivering it. This is complemented by the consultation FE and Skills Funding System and Methodology for Further Education colleges and training organisations, following an independent review by Chris Banks, CBE. http://www.bis.gov.uk/co-investment The documents invite views on: • How private investment in skills can be optimised in accordance with benefits and to allow public money to be used most effectively where it is most needed; • Where more limited public investment should be focused and the skills system can be made simpler and more effective; • How support for individuals and employers can be improved to develop skills and learning and meet the needs of the economy; • How businesses can be encouraged to engage in supporting local community learning; • Holding colleges and other training organisations to account for their performance in responding to learners and employers needs and to prioritising training that adds real economic value. The Department launched a paper, A Strategy for Sustainable Growth, which argues that while we face a period of tough savings in public spending, we are determined to create an environment that enables businesses to operate with confidence and helping to secure the economy for the future. Skills for Sustainable Growth will inform a strategy on skills which will be published in the autumn after the Spending Review. The strategy will outline the Government’s principles for the skills system and a framework for policy for the next five years.