Why now?

We recognise that one of the biggest challenges employers face in the 21st century is to recruit enough highly skilled, motivated and ambitious people who compare well with the best in the world.

“Our nation’s skills are not world-class. We run the risk that this will undermine the UK’s long-term prosperity. Productivity continues to trail many of our main international comparators. Much more needs to be done to reduce social disparities. Improving our skills levels can address all of these problems.” Leitch Review of Skills, Interim Report Dec 2005.

“According to the national audit office skills gaps cost the average 50-employee business £165,000 per year.”

Many industries are facing skills shortages as the current workforce retires and there are too few recruits to replace them. So we need to invest in training which is accessible and attractive for potential employees, and easy for employers to influence and invest in.

“Employers need people with higher skills to compete in a global economy characterised by rapid technological advances and changing work organisation. Skills gaps in the existing workforce are a significant problem for 83% of employers. More than one in ten employers (11%) experienced a serious business impact from skills gaps reporting them to have some impact on business performance.” CBI response to Leitch Review of Skills, Interim Report Dec 2005.

We also have many examples of skills gaps where there are too few people in the workplace with the right skills to support companies’ progress and future plans.

“According to the national audit office skills gaps cost the average 50-employee business £165,000 per year.” Phil Hope, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills.

Faced with these pressures, employers are looking for a simple and streamlined approach to skills training which will bring them the kind of step change they need to maintain their productivity and competitiveness.

Established in 2005, The Fashion Retail Academy is the trailblazer for the National Skills Academies. Its success makes it clear why we need them.

Our vision