Context
“Our nation’s skills are not world-class. We run the risk that this will undermine the UK’s long term prosperity. Productivity continues to trail many of our main international comparators. Much more needs to be done to reduce social disparities. Improving our skill levels can address all of these problems.”
- Leitch Review of Skills Interim Report, November 2005
The risk poor skill levels pose to the UK’s economic competitiveness and social mobility is increasingly well documented and understood.
- Five million adults of working age have no qualifications
- One in six people are without the literacy skills expected of an 11 year old, and more than half of the adult population lack functional numeracy skills
- 70 per cent of the workforce of 2020 is already in the workplace.
- By 2020, Britain will need an extra five million highly skilled workers to remain competitive in global markets.
Ufi believes it has a significant role to play in plugging the skills gap by improving skills, progressing learners to qualifications and engaging with employers to provide training solutions and advice and guidance on learning opportunities.