UK Skills merges with SFA
UK Skills will merge with the Skills Funding Agency in March next year as part of plans to coordinate a more coherent approach to vocational skills competitions and awards in the UK.
Through embedding competitions and awards into the heart of the SFA, it is hoped there will be a greater opportunity for learners, providers and employers to aspire for excellence.
“In incorporating UK Skills within a larger agency of government we are now able to ensure the work of raising standards in industry through competitions and awards is brought into the mainstream education and training landscape,” said Chris Humphries, chairman of UK Skills.
“The move shows the Government’s support, recognition and commitment for the work that UK Skills has and continues to make in the skills and training arena.”
The merger will also help reduce administrative costs and, to ensure there will be no disruption to the upcoming WorldSkills 2011 event, the UK Skills unit will stay intact to ensure business as usual.
SFA CEO Geoff Russell said: “We welcome the UK Skills operation into the wider skills family. We look forward to working with our new colleagues in UK Skills to use competitions and awards to raise ambition and aspiration to excellence across the Further Education sector.”
Jason Rainbow
(Pictured: UK Skills chairman Chris Humphries)
Responses