UK Skills And Training Body Gets Go-Ahead

Proskills, the UK Government backed skills and training organisation, was recommended for an operating licence from Education and Skills Secretary, Ruth Kelly.

Proskills, the new UK Government backed skills and training organisation for the process and manufacturing industries, was recommended to receive a licence to operate from the Education and Skills Secretary, Ruth Kelly.

The decision is the culmination of a concerted effort from employers and gives the official go-ahead to Proskills as a Sector Skills Council.

As a result, personnel from supporting organisations in the printing and coatings industries (amongst others) will join Proskills on August 1.

With experienced staff drawn from industry and a board consisting of senior people from each of the industries, Proskills is firmly rooted in the practical world of the sector and is determined to achieve its aims, according to the organisation.

It is looking to provide the authoritative voice of employers for the sectors' training needs, defining existing skills gaps, ascertaining skills priorities and developing standards and qualifications.

Proskills chief executive officer, Terry Watts, said: "Proskills offers employers in the processing and manufacturing industries a great opportunity.

By joining together these industry sectors, which have much in common both demographically and in their regional spread, they will be stronger and more effective in their dealings with Government.

As a larger and unified organisation, Proskills will be able to maximise Government funding, as well as benefiting from the economies of scale financially and organisationally.

Together these industries form the heart of UK manufacturing - they deserve a stronger voice - Proskills will give them that voice." Currently five industry groups are being formed, consisting of participants in each sector.

The groups will provide the organisation with a check and balance, having the ability to question Proskills' activities and its achievements.

Each group will be chaired by an 'employer champion', who will also be a Proskills board member to ensure that employers' needs are kept at the top of the Proskills agenda.

Feedback from Proskills consultative roadshows that visited sites in the English regions, as well as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, discovered a wealth of enthusiasm for the new organisation and a willingness to get actively involved with the process, said Proskills.

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