Sector Skills Councils

Do you know about the Sector Skills Councils?

There are 25 Sector Skills Councils, which collectively come under the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils. Each Skills Council covers a different area of industry and together they articulate the voice of approximately 85% of the UK’s workforce on skills issues.

Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) provide employer leadership for strategic targeted action to meet their sector’s skills and business needs. In return, they receive substantial public funding and greater dialogue with government departments and their public agencies across the UK.

The Government has identified four key objectives for every Sector Skills Council. These are:

• Reducing skills gaps and shortages;
• Improving productivity, business and public service performance;
• Increasing opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector’s workforce, including action on equal opportunities; and
• Improving learning supply, including apprenticeships, higher education and national occupational standards.

So how can this help me?

With Sector Skills Councils covering most areas in industry there is bound to be one which is of interest to you. Either covering the area you are studying or perhaps the area you would like to work in.

Most of the SSCs have there own career websites where you can find a wealth of useful information including training, job profiles, case studies, industry news and events.

Examples of SSCs include:

Skillset- The SSC for Creative Media

E-Skills UK – The SSC for IT & Telecoms

Skills for Health – The SSC for the UK Health Sector

Skillfast UK – the SSC for fashion and Textiles

Financial Services – The SSC for Financial Services, Insurance and Accounting

Visit http://www.sscalliance.org for more information and links to all 25 Sector Skills Councils