7 Conclusion
217. The Leitch review was produced during a period
of economic optimism. The change in the economic climate will
mean that priorities have to be identified and it will not be
possible to pursue all parts of Leitch. The targets set are probably
impossible but that does not mean that the direction of travel
is not laudable. Moreover, although the targets have a limited
hold on the attitudes and decisions of many individuals and employers,
the setting of central targets and ambitions at least ensures
that the focus is kept on this vital area More problematic is
the complexity of skills delivery mechanisms and the failure to
communicate urgency of need or the availability of options to
employers and individuals. There is no evidence at present that
either will take up the full role in partnership envisaged by
Leitch. This must be addressed.
218. The economic
climate makes it more imperative not less that skills levels are
raised. As the UK comes out of recession, people will be needed
who can pick up the new range of jobs which emerge at that time.
An emphasis within skills policy on re-skilling is therefore vital.
We are also concerned that the current policy of supplying skills
and expecting businesses to utilise them, rather than tackling
skills shortages or approaching skills as part of a wider national
economic development plan, will not hold up in a shrinking economy
where the major drivers of the financial, business services and
retail sector have stalled. The Government will have to consider
how to build more flexibility into its support for training and
also more direction to ensure that the UK concentrates its skills
development in areas for which there is current and future demand.
219. We have heard much cynicism about the Leitch
Review and whether this time things will be different. One witness,
Professor Wolf, observed that:
We have had a major inquiry into skills every few
years since 1860 literally and we constantly reform; we constantly
change it. In the process, we have ended up with a situation where
employers are spending far less within further education on skills
training than they were before all of this started.[435]
Another joked: "If it ends in tears there will
be another review!"[436]
We want
to see this review succeed. There is no time for a new start as
long as our competitors continue to advance. The Government must
work to ensure the success of its skills agenda through the clear
communication of its vision and through practical measures to
enable employers and individuals to recognise and reap the benefits
of higher levels of skills.
435 Q 90 Back
436
Q 170 Back
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