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Vocational education
11/08/2010
A review of the vocational education and training available to people in and seeking work is to be carried out.
The review will be undertaken by the Chair of Skills Development Scotland Willy Roe and aims to achieve 'better value for money' and faster progress on the national economic targets.
The current economic climate and public spending pressures will be central to the review which will look at more effective approaches to workforce development as well as support for the unemployed and young people seeking work for the first time.
The review will also look at training provision being better aligned to the Scottish Government's Economic Strategy and Curriculum for Excellence and will be completed by the end of the current financial year.
The Scottish Government has invested record levels of funding, and provided additional places, in higher and further education for 2010/11 and more than £200 million has been invested in skills development.
Mr Roe's position as Chair of Skills Development Scotland will be temporarily filled by John McClelland, the Chair of the Scottish Funding Council, for the period of the review.
Education Secretary Michael Russell said:
"As Scotland emerges from the recession and faces the public spending challenges we must continue to focus on responding to the skills demands of the modern labour market. Doing this successfully will allow us to take advantage of emerging economic opportunities and to ensure people of all ages can move into the jobs of the future.
"Already, we have invested record amounts in colleges, universities and training, however, times are tough and the current climate of deep Westminster spending cuts means we absolutely must get the very best value for the public purse.
"This review will ensure Scotland's people, despite these pressures, will continue to get efficient and effective support with real results: jobs and training opportunities. The overarching goal is to ensure we are delivering the Government Economic Strategy Targets in a timely and cost effective approach.
"I am delighted that Willy Roe, will bring his numerous years of experience in enterprise, careers and training, from both a Scottish and UK perspective, to lead this review. I would also like to thank John McClelland for agreeing to Chair Skills Development Scotland in addition to his responsibilities as Chair of the Scottish Funding Council."
Willy Roe said:
"This review comes at a time of genuine opportunity for Scotland at the same time as we face clear economic and fiscal challenges. The move to a low carbon economy is transforming the way we do business with the world. Technological advances are allowing those communities that have traditionally been at the periphery of our economy to move into the mainstream. Greater exposure to global influences is widening Scotland's horizons and raising ambition, particularly among our young people. If we are going to take full advantage of these changes we must move decisively to develop a highly competitive and innovative workforce. I am pleased to have been asked to take this work forward and am grateful to John McClelland for agreeing to take on my role as chair of Skills Development Scotland while I carry out the review."
The review will focus on the area of post 16 vocational education and training which supports people into work and helps sustain them in productive employment. It will primarily focus on:
- The needs of young people seeking to make a seamless transition into work
- Adults who are unemployed and are seeking to move back into work
- Those in employment who are seeking to upskill and, critically, employers of all types seeking to improve efficiency and productivity through their skills investment
- Preparing for and exploiting opportunities presented by the move to a low carbon economy
These temporary arrangements will be put in place from Monday August, 16. John McClelland will Chair his first meeting of the Skills Development Scotland Board on September, 2. The final report is due by the end of the current financial year.
This review has a budget of £25,000 from which Mr Roe will be remunerated for a time commitment of 1.5 days per week at the rate of £350 per day. Dennis Gunning, the former Director of Skills Higher Education and Lifelong Learning with the Welsh Assembly will also support the review and be remunerated on a daily rate of £250 for a time commitment of on average 1 day a week. Mr Roe will continue to be remunerated for his role as the Scotland Commissioner for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UK CES).
John McClelland is currently remunerated as Scottish Funding Council Chair on a daily rate of £447 for a time commitment of 2 days per week. He will be remunerated on the same daily rate as SDS Chair. While he undertakes temporary responsibilities as SDS Chair, his time commitment with the SFC will reduce to 1.5 days per week, to allow him to commit the same amount of time - 1.5 days per week - as SDS Chair.
The additional cost in remuneration to the public purse is expected to be around £5,000.