Prudential launches training and employment link in Manchester
The Prudential is using its power as a big property-owner to help get unemployed 18-24-year-olds into jobs in the retail sector. At the end of January, the company launched its second Training and Employment Link, following a successful pilot in the Tyne & Weir area last year. Based in the Arndale shopping centre in Manchester (owned by the Prudential), it responds directly to local concerns about the ability of ‘New Dealers’ to find jobs at more than the most basic skills level, and involves retailers and the local employment service.
Unemployed young people get a three-week retail skills course and a week’s placement in a local retailer, with Prudential providing facilities for the training course. So far, almost 100 young people have found full or part-time jobs through the scheme. The company is now encouraging its suppliers to take on course graduates too – five young people have found jobs as security officers with the Prudential’s security contractor. Contact Paul Cornes, Prudential, on 020 7548 6866 (http://www.prudential.co.uk)
Financial sector clubs together to fill skills gap
Sixteen leading Scottish investment firms have formed a unique joint venture company to address the training, recruitment and career development needs of the industry. Launched on March 8, the initiative aims to tackle the skills gap that threatens to halt rapid growth in the investment sector in Scotland. The founding companies, which include Abbey National, Scottish Widows, Standard Life and HSBC, have each pledged £250,000 to create Scottish Investment Operations. The brainchild of Scottish Financial Enterprise, the new company aims to raise awareness of career choices and create qualifications for the sector. Contact Jim Philips, HSBC, on 0131 338 2002 (http://www.hsbc.com) or Angela Neish, Scottish Financial Enterprise, on 0131 247 7700 (http://www.sfe.org.uk)
Companies chart recruitment straits together
EDS, Ericsson, Intel, IBM, Microsoft and Logica have joined a consortium of major IT companies to launch a new skills and recruitment initiative for their sector. The technology companies agreed a charter on March 13, developed with the business-led National Training Organisation, which commits them to activities such as:
• working with schools to develop ways of inspiring young children in IT;
• standardising job titles across the sector to reduce confusion;
• making advertisements more accessible – especially to women;
• conducting a cross-industry study of best practice in human resource management – notably among those industries that are successful in recruiting a diverse workforce.
The UK government unveiled its “active industrial policy” when it launched on February 13 the latest competitiveness white paper, Opportunity for all in a world of change. Improvement of technical and basic skills is cited as one of five key pillars of a successful, inclusive business environment in the future. Proposals include:
• up to 20 new Centres of Excellence in information and communications technology;
• a shake-up of industry training organisations, resulting in fewer, larger NTOs;
• a major initiative to cut numeracy and literacy problems;
• more modern apprenticeships, vocational GCSEs and foundation degrees.
• Nokia is aiming to help young people develop key life skills through a new practical training programme. Make a Connection, launched on February 26, will be managed by the Children and Youth Partnership Foundation. Contact David Stoneham, Nokia, on 01252 865 209 (http://www.nokia.co.uk)
• Sun Microsystems and Ford together sponsored Women Unlimited, a work and training fair for women, which opened on February 14. Contact the Cabinet Office on 020 7270 0634 (http://www.womens-unit.gov.uk)
• British Nuclear Fuels, BT, Consignia and United Utilities are supporting a new training initiative designed to “extend social responsibilities to tomorrow’s leaders”. The Sir Christopher Harding Leadership Programme offers young high-flyers practical and theoretical elements during the three-phase course, which starts in July. Contact Ashridge on 01442 841 000 (http://www.ashridge.org.uk)
Comment
April saw the start of the new business-led Learning and Skills Council, with a budget of £5 billion and responsibility for all post-16 education and training in England outside universities. And not a moment too soon. Despite all the attention to education and training over the last decade or more, major industries and crucial growth sectors for the UK economy such as IT and financial services still find themselves lacking suitably qualified applicants. Whoever is ultimately responsible for the problem, it is good to see individual companies working together to find solutions.
A parallel reorganisation is underway in the industry-led national training organisations. The three main business organisations, the CBI, BCC and IOD, have made skills training the centre-piece of their pre-election manifesto, calling for an extra two million skilled workers over the next decade. But don’t hold your breath for “training, training, training” to become the mantra of the next government, whatever the outcome of the election.
Corporate Citizenship Briefing, issue no: 57 – April, 2001
COMMENT:
April saw the start of the new business-led Learning and Skills Council, with a budget of £5 billion and responsibility for all post-16 education and training in England outside universities. And not a moment too soon. Despite all the attention to education and training over the last decade or more, major industries and crucial growth sectors for the UK economy such as IT and financial services still find themselves lacking suitably qualified applicants. Whoever is ultimately responsible for the problem, it is good to see individual companies working together to find solutions.
A parallel reorganisation is underway in the industry-led national training organisations. The three main business organisations, the CBI, BCC and IOD, have made skills training the centre-piece of their pre-election manifesto, calling for an extra two million skilled workers over the next decade. But don’t hold your breath for “training, training, training” to become the mantra of the next government, whatever the outcome of the election.
Corporate Citizenship Briefing, issue no: 57 – April, 2001
COMMENTS