As Northern Ireland's job market enters its toughest period for decades and the government strives to pull the economy out of recession, leading awarding organisation City & Guilds today launched a document that offers some answers.

The launch
Industry leaders from across Northern Ireland joined Minister for Employment and Learning Sir Reg Empey MLA at the Parliament Buildings in Belfast for the launch of City & Guilds' Manifesto for Skills in Northern Ireland: six policy proposals for a brighter future.

Speaking at the event Sir Reg Empey MLA said: 
'The economic challenges of a global recession have brought the skills agenda - and how we prepare for an eventual upturn in the economy - sharply into focus.'

The Minister continued:
'The City & Guilds Manifesto for Skills complements the ongoing work of my Department in this critical area. I am particularly looking forward to the outcomes of the discussions the Manifesto will no doubt generate between our academic, training and business communities in relation to the further development of the skills of our people.'

Research
According to research that underpins one of the key policy proposals, one third of the working population in Northern Ireland has poor levels of essential skills (literacy, numeracy and ICT). Figures indicate that employers could be losing thousands of pounds a year as a result. Smaller employers could be losing up to £86,000 per year and larger employers up to £500,000.

The Manifesto identifies six 'quick wins' City & Guilds believes the Assembly Government should implement to drive economic recovery, enhance social mobility and create a more prosperous country. Whilst City & Guilds believes the Assembly is heading in the right direction, it is figures like these that suggest more can be done. City & Guilds Manifesto for Skills calls on the Government to adopt six key policy recommendations to 'pave the way for a brighter future'.

Helen Bready from City & Guilds in Belfast explained the thinking behind the Manifesto:
'Rather than criticise the Assembly from the sidelines, City & Guilds has looked at how we can help the Government deliver innovative and effective policies - for both skills and employment - that help individuals across the nation engage with learning and gain the right skills for sustainable employment.

'The assembly has a great opportunity to develop a world-class system that is truly responsive to local, regional and national skills needs as we look forward to skills for 'a brighter future'.'
      
ENDS

For further information contact Helen Bready, City & Guilds Northern Ireland Manager, on 028 9082 3750 or email her at helen.bready@cityandguilds.com.

The Manifesto for Skills in Northern Ireland's six policy proposals are:

1. Reduce the likelihood of 'rogue traders' undercutting qualified members of the workforce and endangering consumers through the expansion of the Licence to Practise schemes.

2. Essential Skills - literacy, numeracy and ITC - are the building blocks to higher skills levels and prosperity. The Manifesto recommends the Assembly does more to raise the profile of these hugely important skills and that they should be viewed as being equal to GCSEs.

3. A clear progression path through all qualification levels should be available to all individuals. This includes introducing a range of pre-vocational options to give individuals the chance to explore their options before committing to full courses. In-work training is also important and it must be possible for firms to upskill their employees on the job.

4. City & Guilds believes that the Department for Employment and Learning's 'C'mon Over' scheme should be extended to include vocational skills. This would help create a diverse and highly skilled economy in Northern Ireland, and fill the skills gaps which currently exist.

5. An area of constant concern for employers is the lack of work-ready graduates. The Manifesto contains two innovative proposals to improve work skills. Firstly, accrediting 'gap year' work placements. Often seen as a big holiday, gap years can impart practical life skills not found in the classroom. Secondly, accrediting extra-curricular learning for first year undergraduates, focussing on work-readiness. Such accreditation schemes could also be extended to apply to those in schools and colleges.

6. There are numerous studies that show leadership and management as being a key strategic area for economic development. With the expiration of the Management and Leadership Network's remit there is now no body that has strategic control of this highly important area. City & Guilds is proposing that the Government creates a Leadership and Management Council, which would work to ensure that such a skills strategy is implemented.

• City & Guilds is the UK's leading awarding body for work-related qualifications.
• A full copy of A Manifesto for Skills in Northern Ireland: six policy proposals for a brighter future can be obtained by emailing phillipa.thomas@cityandguilds.com or christopher.brooks@cityandguilds.com
• In total, City & Guilds awarded nearly 1.3 million certificates to UK learners in 2008, on over 500 subjects ranging from hair and beauty to catering and management. Nearly 30,000 were awarded to learners in Northern Ireland.
• The City & Guilds Group operates from three major hubs: London (servicing Europe, the Caribbean and Americas), Johannesburg (servicing Africa), and Singapore (servicing Asia, Australia and New Zealand).
• The City & Guilds Group comprises the Institute of Leadership & Management (management and leadership qualifications), NPTC (land-based qualifications) and the City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development (research and policy development).