Skills Pledge

The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by the leadership of any organisation to support all its employees in developing their basic skills where required, which could lead to a national qualification. The purpose is to ensure that all staff are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the business.

This Government initiative to support businesses in raising skills standards has been welcomed by the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), which is calling on the industry to get behind the drive to improve competencies in the workforce.

Employers that sign up to the Skills Pledge will have access to a Skills Broker, who can assess the company’s training needs and help the employer produce an action plan that will set out contributions from the state, the employer and the individual. Government funding is available through the Learning and Skills Council’s Train to Gain service, to enable businesses to provide staff with the opportunity to acquire a national Level 2 qualification (equivalent to 5 GCSEs).

Having committed the IMI to the Skills Pledge and encouraging its staff to get involved, Sarah Sillars, IMI Chief Executive, commented:

“In the same way that the Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme is actively promoting and recognising the importance of technical skills and current competence, the Skills Pledge is an ideal opportunity for employers to harness expertise, support and funding to assist a business in moving forward from a holistic perspective. I would encourage company bosses to look at what’s on offer and make that commitment.”

For more information on the Skills Pledge, please visit http://www.traintogain.gov.uk/skillspledge/ or call 0800 015 5545.