6. Learning and skills organisations

Unionlearn

Unionlearn is the TUC’s skills and education arm and has a huge amount of useful information, advice and guidance, including downloadable publications, for ULRs and other trade union officers and representatives involved in setting up learning opportunities for their members.

www.unionlearn.org.uk

UK Commission for Employment and Skills

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) was set up to advise the government on the policies, strategies, and measures necessary in order to achieve “our world class ambition of being one of the top eight countries in the world for skills, jobs and productivity”. Its commissioners are from large and small businesses, trade unions, education, training and the public and voluntary sectors.

www.ukces.org.uk

National Skills Academies (NSAs)

National Skills Academies (NASs) are employer-led organisations and have a role in developing the infrastructure needed to deliver specialist skills for key sectors and sub-sectors of the economy. There are NSAs for construction, manufacturing, financial services, food and drink manufacturing, process industries, nuclear, creative and cultural sectors, sport and active leisure, retail, hospitality, social care, enterprise, IT, materials production and supply, power and railway engineering. NSAs are currently being developed for sectors including logistics and environmental technologies.

www.nationalskillsacademy.co.uk

Skills Funding Agency

The Skills Funding Agency is an agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) that funds and regulates adult further education (FE) and skills training in England. It funds training for adults in colleges and training organisations in England to the tune of £4 billion a year. It also houses the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) — see below — and runs vocational skills competitions and awards including the National Training Awards. In 2011 it will host WorldSkills in London, the world’s largest vocational skills competition, with young people from across the globe competing to be the best in their chosen skill.

http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk

National Apprenticeship Service (NAS)

The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) has complete responsibility for apprenticeships in England. It aims to increase the number of apprenticeship opportunities and provide a dedicated service for both employers and learners and runs Apprenticeship vacancies, an online web-based matching service.

www.apprenticeships.org.uk

National Employer Service (NES)

The National Employer Service (NES) provides advice on workforce development strategies — from pre-employment, Skills for Life and Level 2 and 3 qualifications, through Apprenticeships at Levels 2, 3 and 4, to Higher Education to national, multi-site employers with more than 5,000 employees. It also provides a range of funding support and helps employers to share best practice and co-invest in skills. It is part of the National Apprenticeship Service and works on behalf of the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Skills Funding Agency (see above).

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)

The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) is a non-governmental organisation that aims to encourage adult learning. The TUC is a member along with organisations including universities, colleges and local authorities. It runs the national campaigns to promote learning, including Adult Learners’ Week and Quick Reads. It also carries out research, provides consultancy, advice and support services and provides training courses.

www.niace.org.uk

Sector Skills Councils

Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are independent, employer-led, UK–wide organisations designed to build a skills system that is driven by employer demand. There are currently 22 SSCs covering over 90% of the economy working towards the following goals:

• reduced skills gaps and shortages;

• improved productivity, business and public service performance;

• increased opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector’s workforce; and

• improved learning supply through National Occupational Standards, apprenticeships, and further and higher education.

They are involved in:

• working with employers to identify future skills needs;

• developing skills and training solutions;

• setting occupational standards;

• influencing and shaping the future development of qualifications;

• designing apprenticeship frameworks;

• encouraging greater investment in training; and

• providing labour market information that assists in long-term business planning.

Asset Skills

The Sector Skills Council for property, housing, cleaning and facilities

management.

2 The Courtyard, 48 New North Road, Exeter EX4 4EP

Tel: 0139 242 3399, Email: [email protected], Web: www.assetskills.org

Cogent

The Sector Skills Council for chemicals and pharmaceuticals, nuclear,

oil and gas, petroleum and polymers.

Unit 5, Mandarin Court, Centre Park, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1GG

Tel: 0192 551 5200, Email: [email protected], Web: www.cogent-ssc.com

ConstructionSkills

The Sector Skills Council for construction sector and built environment.

Bircham Newton, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 6RH

Tel: 0344 994 4400, Email: [email protected], Web: www.cskills.org

Creative & Cultural Skills

The Sector Skills Council for Creative and Cultural Skills for arts, performing, music, heritage and craft and design.

Lafone House, The Leathermarket, Weston Street, London SE1 3HN

Tel: 020 7015 1800, Email: [email protected], Web: www.ccskills.org.uk

e-skills UK

The Sector Skills Council for Information Technology and Telecomms

1 Castle Lane, London SW1E 6DR

Tel: 020 7963 8920, E: [email protected], Web: www.e-skills.com

Energy Waste & Utility Skills

The Sector Skills Council for energy, waste and utilities.

Friars Gate Two, 1011 Stratford Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands B90 4BN

Tel: 0845 077 9922, Email: [email protected], Web: www.euskills.co.uk

Financial Skills Partnership (FSP)

The Financial Skills Council Partnership (FSP) is an independent, employer-led organisation, established in 2004 to provide strategic leadership for education, training and skills development for the financial services, accountancy and finance industries across the UK.

51 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HQ

Tel: 0845 257 3772, Email: [email protected], Web www.fssc.org.uk

GoSkills

The Sector Skills Council for passenger transport.

Concorde House, Trinity Park, Solihull, West Midlands B37 7UQ

Tel: 0121 635 5520, Email: [email protected], Web: www.goskills.org

The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI)

The Sector Skills Council for the retail motor industry.

Fanshaws, Brickendon, Hertford SG13 8PQ

Tel: 01992 511 521, Email: [email protected], Web: www.motor.org.uk

Improve

The Sector Skills Council for food and drink manufacturing and processing

Ground Floor, Providence House, 2 Innovation Close, Heslington YO10 5ZF

Tel: 0845 644 0448, Email: [email protected], Web: www.improveltd.co.uk

Lantra

The Sector Skills Council for the environmental and land-based sector.

Lantra House, Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 2LG

Tel: 0247 669 6996, Email: [email protected], Web: www.lantra.co.uk

People 1st

The Sector Skills Council for the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism.

2nd Floor, Armstrong House, 38 Market Square, Uxbridge Middlesex UB8 1LH

Tel: 01895 817 000, Email: [email protected], Web: www.people1st.co.uk

Proskills UK

The Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector.

Centurion Court, 85B Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RY

Tel: 0123 583 3844, Email: [email protected], Web: www.proskills.co.uk

SEMTA

The Sector Skills Council for science, engineering and manufacturing technologies

14 Upton Road, Watford, Hertfordshire WD18 0JT

Tel: 0845 643 9001, Email: [email protected], Web: www.semta.org.uk

SkillsActive

The Sector Skills Council for sport and recreation, health and fitness, outdoors, playwork and caravanning industry

Castlewood House, 77-91 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1PX

Tel: 020 7632 2000, Email: [email protected], Web: www.skillsactive.com

Skills for Care and Development

The Sector Skills Council for social care, children, early years and young people’s workforce.

2nd Floor City Exchange, 11 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5ER

Tel: 0113 390 7666, Email: sscinfo@skillsforcareanddevelopment, Web: www.skillsforcareanddevelopment.org.uk

Skillset

The Sector Skills Council for TV, film, radio, interactive media, advertising, animation, computer games, facilities, photo imaging, publishing, fashion and textiles

Focus Point, 21 Caledonian Road, London N1 9GB

Tel: 020 7713 9800, Email: [email protected], Web: www.skillset.org

Skills for Health

The Sector Skills Council for the whole of the UK health sector.

2nd Floor, Goldsmiths House, Broad Plain, Bristol BS2 0JP

Tel: 0117 922 1155, Email: [email protected], Web: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk

Skills for Justice

The Sector Skills Council for policing & law enforcement, youth justice, custodial care, community justice, courts service, prosecution services and forensic science, fire and rescue services and legal services.

Centre Court, Atlas Way , Sheffield S4 7QQ

Tel: 0114 231 7375, Email: [email protected], Web: www.skillsforjustice.com

Skills for Logistics

The Sector Skills Council for the freight logistics and wholesaling industry.

12 Warren Yard, Warren Farm Office Village, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK12 5NW

Tel: 0190 831 3360, Email: [email protected], Web: www.skillsforlogistics.org

Skillsmart Retail

The Sector Skills Council for the retail sector.

4th Floor, 93 Newman Street, London W1T 3EZ

Tel: 020 7462 5060, Email: [email protected], Web: www.skillsmartretail.com

SummitSkills

The Sector Skills Council for building services engineering.

Vega House, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK15 0DF

Tel: 0190 830 3960, Email: [email protected], Web: www.summitskills.org.uk