Against a background of economic uncertainty that has threatened to overshadow education on the political agenda, City & Guilds has worked hard to keep vocational skills in the political spotlight and in the headlines. Using its industry links and network of educational specialists, City & Guilds has not only anticipated but shaped the course of work-based learning in 2010-11, with a strong focus on apprenticeships.
In March 2011, the government released Professor Alison Wolf’s report criticising the state of education in the UK, saying that hundreds of thousands of young people are currently studying for vocational courses that do not lead to either university or employment. Among Wolf’s recommendations were numerous suggestions and concerns that mirror City & Guilds’ current policies for change. Wolf recommended that Sector Skills Councils should not have the sole power to design and approve qualifications frameworks, something City & Guilds Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Jones, strongly agreed with when the report was released. ‘It is not evident that this approach has led to qualifications best suited to young learners,’ said Jones. ‘We appreciate how the review recognises awarding organisations as a potential source of innovation and quality. Whereas some aspects of the Wolf Report reflect our views, there is clearly more work to do to demonstrate the value of vocational education.’
Plan in action
Professor Wolf asserts in her report that ‘excellent vocational provision can motivate and excite young people and teach them valuable skills’. This desire to inspire and motivate through good training underpinned the launch of Million Extra, City & Guilds’
commitment to support employers, training centres and learners by helping ensure one million people start an apprenticeship by summer 2013. It’s an audacious project, but City & Guilds’ 130 years of experience in the skills marketplace means it is best placed to achieve the goal. ‘We cannot underestimate this challenge in the current economic climate,’ said Chris Jones when Million Extra launched. ‘However, City & Guilds is not just setting a target but creating an aspiration, one that we can only achieve by working together. Securing a million apprenticeship placements is not the end goal. Our long-term goal is a stronger, more sustainable economy that can shine on the global stage through apprenticeships.’
Driving quality
To help ensure that the Million Extra campaign creates skilled apprentices who will contribute to the economy, City & Guilds has been active at the forefront of educational policy, taking real-world issues to the people who will help shape future policy. During the 2011 party conference season, City & Guilds engaged directly with members of all three of the main political parties to ensure that all young people who do not follow an academic route have an appealing and clear work-based skills alternative. At the Conservative Party
conference, City & Guilds joined
A positive influence City & Guilds responded to 20 policy consultations and the Wolf Report took on board 12 City & Guilds recommendations