Skills Minister confirms strong role for SSCs

In a written statement on 10 June 2010, Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning John Hayes said: “Sector skills councils have a crucial role in all aspects of our skills policy, including apprenticeships. We will continue to empower them as the voice of employers in the skills system-and to challenge them to perform with maximum effectiveness.”

Skills for Health chief executive John Rogers said: “The Minister for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning has signalled that sector skills councils (SSCs) will continue to have a ‘crucial role’ in all aspects of skills policy, including apprenticeships. He has also indicated that the new Government will continue to empower SSCs as the voice of employers in the skills system. We welcome this very positive endorsement of the role of sector skills councils, and as the SSC for health, look forward to working with employers in the NHS, independent and voluntary sectors throughout the UK to deliver a better-skilled and more productive workforce, delivering high-quality patient care.”