Coverage Highlights for February 2007

The Sunday Telegraph—18 Feb 2007

British manufacturing is flying by the seat of its pants–Improving skills and attracting young talent are vital if Britain is to retain its lead in aerospace

The article looks at skills in the manufacturing industry, stating that a lack of investment and direction could see vital expertise and business being moved abroad. Initiatives such as the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing are held up as employer endorsed examples of how the industry is being regenerated.

Times Educational Supplement—16 Feb 2007

Spring start for £4m food industry academy

The article covers the ministerial approval of the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink Manufacturing. The Skills Academy is noted to offer the first purpose-designed course in production management at NVQ levels 2 and 3.

Personnel Today—7 Feb 2007

Learning and Skills Council director defends UK record on talent development

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) defends the UK’s training record and insists it is tackling employers’ concerns about the skills crisis. The National Skills Academy network is noted to have plans for up to 12 National Skills Academies for different industries up and running by 2008.

The Bolton News—5 Feb 2007

Academies get backing from MP

Marks the launch of the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing and notes the welcome it received from Bolton MP David Crausby. The piece notes that the Skills Academy will deliver courses designed by industry experts and will train 40,000 students a year by 2012.

Eastern Daily Press—3 Feb 2007

A training centre near Dereham has been selected as one of the first to join a £4.4m network of centres to deliver new skills to thousands of people.

National Skills Academy for Food & Drink Manufacturing was given the go-ahead by Phil Hope. The piece notes that the Skills Academy is the culmination of more than two years of research, planning and development by leading employers, coordinated by Improve. The Skills Academy is forecast to deliver new skills to at least 28,000 people during its first four years.

Music Week—3 Feb 2007

Live music training academy a step closer

The launch of a new £10m Skill Academy to train workers for the live music sector has moved a step closer with the drawing up of a timetable of action. The proposed National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Industries now has until mid-March to finish a consultation exercise about the Skills Academy before preparing its business plan to deliver to the Education Secretary Alan Johnson in April. The piece highlights the input of employers noting that 50 leading music industry employers were questioned in focus groups and one-to-one interviews about where the Skills Academy should be sited, which courses and colleges should be involved and what the Skills Academy should be called.

Regeneration and Renewal—2 Feb 2007

Academy launched for manufacturing

The piece marks the launch of the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing following a launch event at the main centre in Leamington Spa. The article highlights the employer-led approach of the Skills Academy.

Disclaimer: All views expressed in these articles are those of the individual media listed and are not representative of the Learning and Skills Council.