National Skills Pledge Conference
North West Employers, in partnership with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the IDeA, hosted an exciting event focusing on how local authorities can benefit from an investment in skills, particularly by making a commitment to the Employer Skills Pledge.
The event, held at the Lowry Hotel on 4 June 2008, attracted over 100 delegates eager to learn from our experiences in the North West with the Get On Award and Skills Pledge. Chaired by Councillor Roger Phillips, Vice Chair of Local Government Employers (LGE), we heard from a range of speakers about the different aspects of the Skills Pledge. Liz McQue, Chief Executive of North West Employers, set the context for the day with a strong message regarding the imperatives driving authorities to sign the Pledge, with a reminder that there are benefits for everyone from an organisational to individual level. Speakers included Liz Smith, Director of unionlearn, Dave Brennan from North West LSC and Mark Sanders, Chief Executive of Bury MBC, who shared a perspective from the AGMA sub-region in addition to Bury’s approach.
Delegates were able to listen to experiences of other authorities; not just from the platform but during three interactive workshops run by Blackpool Council (Elizabeth Bullen and unionlearn, Mark Rowe), Stockport MBC (Kath Gresty and Karen Stores) and the LSC (Paul Ashcroft). These workshops gave delegates the chance to hear real stories and to discuss issues of direct relevance to them.
A highlight of the day was hearing Elizabeth Squires from Cheshire County Council explaining the reasons why Cheshire was signing the Employer Skills Pledge and, indeed, witnessing the signing.
The day concluded with information from Joyce Redfearn, Chief Executive of Wigan MBC and Chair of the National Improvement and Efficiency Partnership. Merseytravel representatives, Stephanie Hague and Leanne Kinsella, made delegates sit up and take notice by sharing the benefits of a learning culture for their organisation and the difference that can be made to individual lives.
The day was a tremendous success and a great opportunity to showcase all the fantastic activity taking place in the North West, to ensure our workforce is equipped with the skills and qualifications needed to deliver strong public services both now and in the future.
Conference PhotographsFor further information about the Pledge or signing up to it, click the link below.
Skills Pledge