157 Group publishes tackling unemployment policy paper
5th July 2012
For immediate release: 5 July 2012
157 Group publishes tackling unemployment policy paper
BEGINS
The 157 Group has published its latest policy paper, to coincide with its annual forum in Bristol. Titled Tackling unemployment: the college contribution, the paper includes a foreword from the director-general of the CBI, John Cridland CBE. The paper argues that since further education offers a constructive alternative to unemployment and gives people the skills they need for when the economy picks up, it should be promoted by the government with the same vigour as apprenticeships. It also recommends:
• a review of existing financial support arrangements, including jobseeker's allowance, with the aim of creating a fair and effective support system, comparable with that in higher education
• reform of the FE curriculum, giving colleges greater freedom to tailor programmes to individual and community needs, and extending this to the over 19 age group
• that the funding of colleges needs to be more flexible, to allow colleges' major contribution to employment to be delivered in ways that businesses want.
Neil Carberry, CBI's director of employment and skills, said, "The focus must be on ensuring that colleges are freed up to work with businesses at the local level, and this report includes a number of important ideas that will spark debate about the best way to achieve this shared goal."
Lynne Sedgmore CBE, executive director of the 157 Group, said, "Given the recent news that the number of young people not in employment, education or training is on the rise again, this policy paper is timely. We need to continue to acknowledge and reinforce the vital role that colleges have to play in upskilling and reskilling people to harness their potential, ensuring that young people have good skills, including literacy and numeracy, and the competencies they need to succeed at work. We are delighted that the CBI has endorsed our paper - it is important for businesses and colleges to continue working together creatively to help the economy flourish."
Marilyn Hawkins, chair of the 157 Group, said, "The policy paper includes examples of good practice in our member colleges. Colleges are already adept at delivering forward-thinking programmes that help equip learners with the skills they need to enter the world of work, and we want business and industry to be aware of this. However, there is still work to be done with regard to maintenance support, funding flexibilities and an innovative curriculum, so that employers and further education institutions can focus on working together to boost the UK's economy and provide equal life chances for all."
ENDS NOTES TO EDITORS
The policy paper can be downloaded in PDF format from the 157 Group website at http://www.157group.co.uk/files/tackling_unemployment2.pdf
---About the 157 Group---
The 157 Group represents 27 of the most influential colleges in the FE sector. It was formed in 2006 in response to paragraph 157 of Sir Andrew Foster's report on the future of further education colleges, in which he argued that principals of large successful colleges should play a greater role in policymaking.
---CONTACT--- Gemma Knott Tel: 07581354750 Email: gemma.knott@157group.co.uk The 157 Group Limited P O Box 58147 London SW8 9AF Website: www.157group.co.uk
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