In December 2006, Sandy Leitch overlooked nearly 13% of the UK's population. In his report, 'Prosperity for all in a Global Economy'. Leitch recognised the need to dramatically up-skill the UK's workforce to compete with growing economies, while failing to address the millions who remain economically inactive.

There are currently 28.6 million adults in employment in the UK. In addition, 1.4 million are unemployed and 17.5 million economically inactive, and of the latter group 7.9 million are of working age.

The economically inactive, including carers, stay at home parents and the long term sick, often have lower skills levels than those in work and may require up-skilling to meet employer demands.

They are disengaged from the education system and have high drop out rates. They generally consider education a one-off experience, something that is undertaken at school and then forgotten. Once in the education system, they may require more support, more one-to-one time and most importantly, more flexibility. How do we reach them?

I have never shied away from my belief in Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs) and find myself turning to them once again as a way of re-engaging with the economically inactive and providing an adaptable education system.

ILAs were originally created as a mechanism to ensure the resources needed to support learners were always available. They offered a credit in the learning system for an agreed amount of publicly funded learning time, the opportunity for tax free savings, and deferred borrowing on advantageous terms to enable other periods of study.

A return to this model would provide easy entry points into education and create a system that allows learning to be continuously topped up. While lLAs would provide flexible access to education, sound labour market information and guidance would ensure learners take courses likely to lead to employment.

To help a 17 or 42 year old make that important learning or career choice, up-to-date information must be available,  at the right time, in the right language and tone, and in the right media. An effective, well-informed, professional careers service to not only provide advice, but reinforce the knowledge that learning pays.

The UK workforce is facing an unprecedented revolution to which we must respond, an 'agequake'. The 2001 census recorded a dramatic decline in the 1990s, the result of which is that 600,000 fewer young people will enter the workforce between 2010 and 2020.

This, at a time when the Chancellor's targets for economic growth during that period require 1.3 million people to take up employment. So, how can we provide industry with sufficient resources to remain competitive?

We must reach out to the millions of economically inactive people of working age that Leitch overlooked. Now is the time to encourage them back into learning and provide them with the skills and incentives they need.

It is vital that we place these people's needs at the heart of provision. At City & Guilds, we are already part of the way there. Our average learner is 30, indicating our courses suit those returning to education. However, there is still some way to go.

The Government must also work to create a flexible education system that focuses on the needs of the learner while striving to create an environment that promotes learning as a lifelong pursuit.

Chris Humphries
Director-General, City & Guilds