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• e-skills UK creates over 300 new IT jobs for young people

  10 May 2013

  A partnership between the National Skills Academy for IT, training provider NITP, and BT has created a total of 313 new IT apprenticeships since October last year. The project received co-investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills via the Growth and Innovation Fund.
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  IMI Professional Register now live!

  9 May 2013

  The IMI’s Professional Register is now live and searchable by motorists at www.imiregister.org.uk. If you are ATA registered or a member of the IMI, it is more than likely that your name and place of work will be displayed. Because of this, the IMI is calling on all automotive professionals that are listed on the register to check and, if necessary, update their details to make the most of the opportunities it provides

• ‘The Skills Platform’ to revolutionise training for charities and social enterprises

  8 May 2013

  Today, Skills- Third Sector kicks off a co-design process to create an innovative digital platform where charities and social enterprises can more easily find and compare training and other skills support

• New careers website a “game changer” for passenger transport and travel employers

  18 Apr 2013

  People 1st has launched a brand new website to promote the fantastic career opportunities available in passenger transport and travel.

• Business and school partnerships in action

  28 Mar 2013

  On Thursday 18 March, 11 students from Sir John Thursby Community College Burnley took over the running of the Holiday Inn Express, their Business Class partner for the day. Business Class is a Business in the Community Programme, the expansion and enhancement of which has been supported by investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. It creates long term partnerships between businesses and schools.

• New scheme to create 650 new Apprentices in Cornwall

  20 Mar 2013

  A campaign to create 650 new Apprentices in Cornwall was launched by Truro and Falmouth MP Sarah Newton when she visited an apprentice sail-maker last week.

• e-skills UK supports the launch of the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs

  11 Mar 2013

  e-skills UK contributed to the launch of the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs on March 4 – 5 in Brussels, championing its programmes to more than 400 senior business leaders, civil servants and educationalists from across Europe.

• Essential skills for the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering sector

  15 Feb 2013

  The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) is investing alongside companies in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) sector to ensure it has the skills needed for future competitiveness and growth.

• First company signs up to innovative apprentice programme

  6 Feb 2013

  Manchester based MSM Aerospace Fabricators has become the first company to sign up to a scheme which will see them employ two BAE Systems trained apprentices.

• IMI to launch industry voluntary licence to practise

  24 Dec 2012

  From April 2013, the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) is set to launch its public-facing register for automotive professionals, which will act as a voluntary licence to practise for the retail automotive industry.
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  A national nuclear gateway

  11 Dec 2012

  The National Skills Academy for Nuclear has gained approval via the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) for A National Nuclear Gateway project, funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and matched against nuclear employer investment.

• Student employability top of the agenda at e-skills UK's ITMB event

  4 Dec 2012

  Nearly 350 students taking e-skills UK’s IT Management for Business (ITMB) degree got the chance to boost their employability on Wednesday 28 November. They met 25 leading employers and gained professional skills at the annual Manchester ITMB Student Event.

• Skills utilisation employer networks

  30 Nov 2012

  Skills for Health is launching a programme of direct support for workforce development projects in the health sector. We will be providing expert advice and practical assistance to employer based workforce projects, tackling a range of issues and solutions. Employers are invited to submit applications for support

• Which Way Now: The Website That Provides Easy Directions to a Better Future

  21 Nov 2012

  The school leavers, adults and the unemployed often have little idea of the variety of options open to them today.

• Skills for Logistics awarded £1.14m to build bridge from military to civilian logistics

  18 Oct 2012

  Skills for Logistics (SfL) has been awarded £1.14 million, under the third phase of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills’ Employer Investment Fund (EIF3), to deliver a programme for transition from military to civilian logistics for up to 1,000 people leaving the armed forces.

• e-skills UK begins drive to improve employability of final year Computing students

  16 Oct 2012

  e-skills UK is delighted to have secured investment to address one of the most pressing issues facing the IT sector: the need to attract more talented and well-qualified applicants.

• The Who’s Who of the IT world celebrate e-skills UK’s impact

  10 Oct 2012

  The Who’s Who of the IT world gathered in London on Wednesday evening to celebrate the impact of e-skills UK. Opening the event, Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Science, praised e-skills UK for its work with employers to inspire future talent and upskill today’s professionals.

• The CIPP announces a new national initiative funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills

  10 Oct 2012

  The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) is delighted to announce a new national initiative, funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) from its Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF), which will help to create new jobs in payroll, bookkeeping and financial administration and support business growth and sustainability particularly within small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and business systems outsourcers.

• Cogent Technical Apprenticeship Service secures diversity grant to increase the number of females entering the STEM sector

  8 Oct 2012

  The Cogent Technical Apprenticeship Service (TAS) has successfully secured funding from the UKCES (UK Commission for Employment and Skills) through the Employer Investment Fund to attract more females into science-based Apprenticeships. The programme aims to enhance female students’ awareness and understanding of Apprenticeship training and potential careers in the science-based industries.

• Funding green light for scheme to make young people more employable

  5 Oct 2012

  More employable young learners, whose talent and potential is helping employers to secure a more successful future for their business; these will be the end results of a SummitSkills project which has just secured funding from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

• Cash incentive for manufacturers to create 200 full-time jobs for graduates

  25 Sep 2012

  An additional 200 graduates are expected to be recruited by businesses in the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector across the UK after funds to support their employment and training were announced today.

• New Skills Ambassadors announced for the creative and cultural industries

  19 Sep 2012

  Creative & Cultural Skills is delighted to announce the appointment of the 12 new Skills Ambassadors, based within the creative sector around the country, supported through co-investment from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

• Hubcap to provide a well rounded solution to Motor Industry careers practitioners

  10 Sep 2012

  The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) announced the launch of a new online resource and community for Careers and Academic Professionals this week, available through the organisation’s Autocity website (www.autocity.org.uk).

• People 1st Scotland Launches Inspirational Skills Legacy 2014

  3 Sep 2012

  People 1st, the sector skills council for hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism, has launched a new programme to improve skills in Scotland in the lead up to the major cultural and sporting events Scotland the nation will host in 2014.

• Fall in total number of students taking ICT GCSEs reinforces demand for new curriculum

  24 Aug 2012

  Following a hugely successful pilot, e-skills UK announced earlier this summer that the 'Behind the Screen' programme will be available to all schools from September 2012. It offers a series of projects, presented as interactive online materials, and supported by full teachers' notes. The projects are developed in close consultation with employers, and are based on real life business issues.

• Careers information and advice in the spotlight

  16 Aug 2012

  With so many different ways available to access information on career options and opportunities, it is increasingly important for individuals to know where help is readily available particularly during and after exam results time. The National Careers Council, chaired by UK Commissioner Dr Deirdre Hughes, OBE, is putting the spotlight on careers information and advice for young people and adults in England.

• Technical Apprenticeship Service one of first ATAs to be approved by the National Apprenticeship Service

  8 Aug 2012

  The Cogent Technical Apprenticeship Service is delighted to announce that it has become one of the elite few Apprenticeship Training Agencies to complete the rigorous recognition process, conducted by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

• Asset Skills launches new careers website

  7 Aug 2012

  A new careers website dedicated to promoting jobs and training in facilities management, property, energy assessment, housing, cleaning and parking has been launched by Asset Skills.

• Wembley Stadium to utilise WorldHost for the Olympic Games

  27 Jul 2012

  Wembley Stadium, home venue of the England national football team and second largest stadium in Europe, has used the WorldHost Principles of Customer Service training programme to prepare its frontline staff ahead of hosting the Olympic football finals this summer.

• Green Deal providers lead the way on skills

  20 Jul 2012

  Six organisations leading the way in preparing for the Green Deal scheme are to share their knowledge with the wider industry. The bodies have been selected as ‘Green Deal skills exemplars’ by the Green Deal Skills Alliance (GDSA), a collaboration of three built environment sector skills councils: Asset Skills, CITB-ConstructionSkills and SummitSkills.

• New Institute set to drive up standards in the employment services industry

  17 Jul 2012

  The Institute of Employability Professionals (IEP), a new organisation dedicated to improving the take-up of training and qualifications by individuals working in the employment services industry, has today been officially launched at the Welfare to Work Convention in Birmingham
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  Food and drink industry announces University provider for first food engineering degree

  9 Jul 2012

  Sheffield Hallam University has been named as the successful university to partner the UK food and drink industry in the development of the country’s first dedicated food and drink engineering degree

• Rotherham businesswoman wins prestigious award for 'trailblazing' achievements

  4 Jul 2012

  A businesswoman from Rotherham who sold her home to launch a multi-million pound company has won one of twelve prestigious awards which celebrate trailblazing and pioneering women.
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  New scheme to boost skills of UK engineers

  22 Jun 2012

  • Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP launches scheme to boost UK’s engineering skills • JLR pioneer new education scheme to be rolled out by Semta • Thousands of UK engineers will be offered Master’s Degree module places
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  Unlocking Data for Skills and Growth

  12 Jun 2012

  A free event for Local Enterprise Partnerships, Local Authorities, colleges, training providers and other Local Labour Market Intelligence users at the QEII Centre, Westminster, Central London, 10.00-13.00 on 4th July
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  First 17 people qualified in Food Manufacturing Excellence Apprenticeships meet Skills Minister

  23 May 2012

  On May 10th John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills awarded 17 employees of Thorntons PLC with the Improve Proficiency Apprenticeship in Food Manufacturing Excellence (FME) qualification, Level 3. They are the first people in England and Wales to have achieved this.

• Asian and Oriental cuisine to tackle youth unemployment

  4 Apr 2012

  Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning John Hayes MP launched five Asian & Oriental Centres of Excellence on 27th March 2012. This long-term initiative, set up by People 1st and championed by the Hospitality Guild, will train unemployed people to become skilled chefs.
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  Work Experience: 'A new approach’ event on 19th April

  28 Mar 2012

  Employers are invited to the ‘Work Experience: a new approach’ event on 19th April to find out about new work to understand the value of work experience and how it can best be delivered
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  ITMB graduates snapped up by top employers

  22 Feb 2012

  Latest figures from e-skills UK show that 100% of Information Technology Management for Business (ITMB) students find employment, or go on to further study, within 6 months of graduation.

• Skills and Employment Survey

  9 Feb 2012

  The UK Commission is co-funding a Skills and Employment Survey (SES) with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). The survey will be carried out in 2012 across the UK. The survey focuses upon the work that people do and how working life has changed.

• Business Secretary praises UK wide Talent Retention Solution

  24 Jan 2012

  Business Secretary Vince Cable met Allan Cook, Chairman of SEMTA and the Skills and Jobs Retention Group on January 18th, together with representatives from BAE Systems, Rolls Royce and Nissan.

• New Providers selected for Universal Services – Standards and Frameworks

  21 Dec 2011

  After a rigorous commissioning process, the UK Commission is pleased to announce that we now have nine new providers to cover the delivery of standards and frameworks within the Universal Services family.

• Tony Lau-Walker explains why providers should welcome the government’s scheme to give employers some control over training funding.

  9 Dec 2011

  THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN THE TES 9 DECEMBER In a few weeks, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills will launch a pilot scheme with the government to help businesses engage directly with the skills agenda.

• Ministers re-open £60m fund to boost business skills & growth

  23 Nov 2011

  BIS PRESS RELEASE: The second phase of the Growth and Innovation Fund (GIF) was launched today by Business Secretary Vince Cable and Minister for Skills John Hayes. The fund will support businesses to develop their skills solutions tailored to their own needs, transforming growth in their sector, region or supply chain.

• £250m pilot to give employers power over skills training is announced

  17 Nov 2011

  Government announces a £250 million plan to give businesses the power to design, develop and purchase vocational training.

• Commissioner appointments

  17 Mar 2011

  We are currently seeking to appoint up to 8 new Commissioners. Commissioners will take the lead in supporting the development and delivery of strategies for skills across the four UK nations that will have a positive impact on skills, jobs and growth. We are looking for leaders who are excited by the challenge of taking the lead in inspiring and influencing greater commitment from employers to invest in the skills that will drive enterprise, productivity and growth.

• UK Employer Skills Survey

  17 Mar 2011

  The 2011 UK Employer Skills Survey is currently at the fieldwork stage, and our research contractors will be contacting businesses around the UK to conduct interviews between 21 March and 15th July.

• Changes to the Investors in People delivery network

  16 Dec 2010

  The current licensing period for Investors in People Centres comes to an end on 31 March 2011. Ahead of this, we have completed an open, competitive application process for awarding new licences.

• 2010 review interim update report published

  20 Oct 2010

  2010 review interim update report published.

• The Youth Inquiry

  10 Aug 2010

  The UK Commission has been charged by Commissioners to investigate the kind of activities, including improved education / employer engagement that most effectively support young people into employment, particularly those who are likely to be furthest from the labour market.