28th Jan 2008
If you think education is expensive, try ignorance
‘If you think education is expensive, try ignorance’, a favourite quote of mine and profoundly relevant to any society serious about increasing standards of living for its citizens. Education is not just about school and college. It’s lifelong and should never be to far from anyone of any age. Today we had the pleasure of being involved in the launch of the UK Skills Passport, UKSP. UKSP is a unique web-based resource which aims to provide much needed information, advice and guidance for employers and employees on training provision, clearly identifiable career development pathways, information on qualifications that employers have recommended as meeting their needs and how to access government funded provision.
UKSP will create a world-class framework for the assessment and development of skills and will simplify the recruitment and development process for employees. It will also help to identify the skills development needs of those keen to pursue a career in the sector and will simplify access routes to skills development funding and the best providers of funding.
UKSP has been welcomed and adopted by leading Northern Ireland’s hoteliers, including Bill Wolsley and Howard Hastings, who both see it as an important tool to not only recruit new employees, but to improve the skills of employees currently in the sector.
It doesn’t stop there. The Prime Minister’s accreditation today of employers as trainers enabling them to award everything from HND to PhDs is an interesting initiative. Skills are the magic bullet. They are good for business, great for the employee and can only benefit the customer.
The Assembly has debated selection at eleven to death but there is so much more to education than that. Sir Reg Empey speaking today at the UKSP launch as Minister for Employment and Learning said by improving the skills of employees in the Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism sector we will not only give tourists a higher quality of visit, but also allow Northern Ireland to develop internationally competitive business. The passport will encourage continuous training and provide an environment in which employers within the hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism sector have access to the right number of people, with the right skills and qualifications.
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