How does it work?

A unique structure, with the National Skills Academy at the apex of a national network of sector specialists.

“Our aspiration is for a National Skills Academy in each major sector of the economy.”
Chris Banks, Chairman, LSC

A shared philosophy

The National Skills Academy network is characterised by a shared commitment to employer-led skills training and a philosophy of excellence.

Common principles

Each member of the network will work to a common set of accountability and financial principles. This will ensure transparency, and mean that both public and private investors can be confident that they are getting value for money and that their investment is bringing the right results.

Sector-specific solutions

“Our aspiration is for a National Skills Academy in each major sector of the economy.”

Employers, working with their SSC and other employer organisations, will shape all aspects of the design of National Skills Academies and the delivery of the training they provide.

We are not prescriptive about what form the National Skills Academy will take. It is what is right for the sector and what employers in that sector want that determines its shape and focus.

National Skills Academies operate in partnership with the best providers, particularly Centres of Vocational Excellence, but also universities, schools and independent training providers. They will ensure that new thinking and new methods will have widespread impact on the quality of teaching and learning across the Further Education sector.

The diagram below shows the kinds of models proposed by National Skills Academies.

Stand-alone centres