Skills Alliance launched for South London Employers

Friday 7th March 2008

Workers with the right skills are vital to the success of business and the local economy and now South London employers have a new voice to press for action to tackle skills needs.

The Skills Alliance was launched today (March 7th) by South London Business and builds on previous initiatives by the London South Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

With funding support from the LSC, the Skills Alliance covers the 12 London boroughs south of the Thames. The organisation’s inaugural membership includes BT, Allders of Croydon, Newsquest South London, Mott MacDonald and Mayday Hospital. The Alliance will be chaired by BT’s Giles Ellerton.

Welcoming the launch, Peter Pledger, Chief Executive of South London Business said: “The issue of skills is always high on the list of concerns raised by businesses in South London. The Skills Alliance for South London Employers will be business led and will work to highlight and addressing the skills challenge in the 12 South London Boroughs. I am pleased that Giles Ellerton from BT will Chair the alliance and I am delighted that South London Business with a range of employers and with the support of the Learning and Skills Council is able to focus on this important issue.�

A recent survey by the LSC nationally underlined the importance of apprenticeships to ensure workers improved their skill levels. The survey, released last mont,h showed that 77% of employers believed that running apprenticeships made their companies more competitive, while 76% said apprenticeships led to higher productivity and 80% felt that offering apprenticeships helped reduce staff turnover.

The new Skills Alliance will give local employers the means to raise skills issues that need to be tackled in South London and will focus attention on addressing these issues. The Alliance will be in touch regularly with London South LSC, Job Centre Plus and the London Development Agency to discuss its concerns and to ensure that the public sector is clear about the employer’s demand for appropriate skills support and training.

The first meeting of the Skills Alliance for South London Employers will be on March 26 at the Institute of Directors in central London. This will be followed on April 30 by a meeting held in association with the Apprentice Ambassadors’ Network where Minister for Skills David Lammy MP will be guest speaker.

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