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PRO INSTALLER FEBRUARY 2015
PRO SKILLS
@proinstaller1
Business leader calls for
renewed skills focus in 2015
The UK education
system must pay more
attention to vocational
skills to prepare young
people for work, according to the Director-General of the CBI, the UK’s
premier business lobbying organisation, who
provided a voice for
employers at a national
and international level.
John Cridland called upon
the education sector to cater
for the needs of the country’s “streetwise and impressive” youngsters, which he
felt does not currently.
In order to help school
pupils achieve their potential, he said A-Levels should
be reformed to offer both
academic and vocational
subjects.
Mr Cridland added that
those between the ages of 14
and 18 should be given the
chance to select a “personal
menu” of subjects based
around their core strengths
and interests.
He said: “This will involve
the eventual abolition of
GCSEs at 16, as peak level
testing would then take
place when students are
18.”
By looking to boost people’s skills while they are
still at school, the expert
said productivity levels and
earnings should both go
up.
He said: “Business will play
its part by improving competitiveness, and creating opportunities for young people
through apprenticeships and
for older workers through
workplace re-training.”
Looking at the wider
economic picture, the CBI
leader said positive signs can
be seen, with the UK likely
to grow by 2.5% over the
coming 12 months.
However, he said that the
Government will only meet
its productivity targets by
helping employers to improve the skills of the British
workforce.
The general election in
May is likely to cause political uncertainty over the next
few months. But Mr Cridland
said the party which forms
a government following
the election should focus
on the economy and create
a “launch pad” for young
people.
The UK must remain an attractive place for companies
to do business, he concluded, no matter the outcome of
the May ballot.
For more information or
to view the original article
visit www.citb.co.uk
Older workers offered
new skills support
Construction bosses are to be reminded of the important
skills which older workers can offer to their businesses.
The Government has
launched a major new
drive to highlight the
skills and experience
which the UK’s over50s can provide to
employers.
As part of their ongoing efforts to overcome
ageism, ministers have
revealed new plans to provide intensive employment
support to older people
who are struggling to find
work opportunities.
From April of next year,
this scheme will seek to
link people up with smallscale businesses which
have positions that need to
be filled.
It will also aim to help
those who are over 50 to
get online, so that they can
track down new training
and job opportunities.
As well as plugging talent
shortages, the Government
has suggested that older
workers could boost the
economy by £50 billion, if
employers made full use of
their skills.
At present, around 1.2
million people over the
age of 50 are thought to
be out of work in the UK.
Esther McVey, the Government’s Minister for Employment, said the age of
50 has effectively become
“the new 30”.
She added: “Despite the
recent impressive trends in
those over 50 getting back
into work, older workers
still in many cases face
to make the most of their
experience to support
younger colleagues.”
As part of 2015’s programme, experts will give
‘it’s a missed opportunity
for businesses to make the
most of their experience to
support younger colleagues’
outdated stereotypes when
it comes to business hiring
practices.
“Not only is this a waste
of valuable talent and ‘life
skills’, but it’s a missed
opportunity for businesses
older Britons the chance to
carry out career reviews.
These reviews will identify their existing skills
and the future direction
they could take, in terms
of jobs.
Steve Webb, the UK’s
Pensions Minister, said it
is important that employers wake up to the value
which older workers can
offer, adding that the Government is keen to address
old-fashioned perceptions.
Responding to the Government’s proposals, Paul
Green from older people’s
group Saga said it can be
“devastating” when those
over the age of 50 lose
their jobs.
As a result of this, he said
they need help to “reskill”
and pursue careers in new
industries.
For further information
visit www.citb.co.uk