John Denham MP, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills announced that eight major employers have made a commitment to training by making the Skills Pledge.
In making the Skills Pledge, companies have committed to supporting all their employees to work towards a relevant, valuable qualification to at least Level 2 (the equivalent of five GCSEs at A - C grade), including basic skills such as numeracy and literacy.
During a keynote speech on 10 January 2008 at a National Employer Service Skills event at the QEII Centre, John Denham urged more companies to reap the benefits of training and to show this commitment by making the Skills Pledge:
'I'm extremely pleased to be able to announce that these industry leaders have made the Skills Pledge today, and I urge all other employers to follow suit. By substantially increasing investment in services such as Train to Gain, the Government has ensured that every company can now benefit from individually tailored skills assessment and training, delivered when and where they need it. We have also cut bureaucracy to make sure that colleges and training organisations can best meet employers' needs, and I am committed to extending formal accreditation to employers' in-house training programmes. Having visited companies across the country, I know that high-quality training makes a real difference - to the commitment and creativity of staff, to increased productivity and ultimately to the bottom line.'
The Leitch Review of Skills, published in December 2006, warned that the UK must 'raise its game' on skills at all levels if it is to sustain and improve its position in the global economy. The Skills Pledge fulfils a key recommendation made in the review, at the heart of a new 'deal' where employers will be able to shape the skills system to meet their needs, in return for prioritising skills training at all levels.
For more information on the Skills Pledge, please visit traintogain.gov.uk/skillspledge or call 0800 015 55 45. | 
