3 Welfare reform, the skilled workforce

A recent report detailed how UK productivity and hence the economy was damaged by low literacy and numeracy standards http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=AMO3E3AVF2L2PQFIQMGSFGGAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2008/01/18/nthreers118.xml . There have also been many studies that have shown a correlation between education and skills with employment and then increased income for individuals. Unfortunately, among many of the no-skills, low skills population, the benefits of training and qualifications don’t seem to have had the subjective appeal that the rational economic argument has had with government. However, the department of work and pensions (DWP) in alliance with the department for innovation (DIUS) is about to embark on a whole new set of programs in order to alter that. Last week, a paper called ‘Ready to work, skilled for work: unlocking talent’ was published by DWP/DIUS http://www.dius.gov.uk/publications/ready_to_work.pdf this is intended to be a major initiative and is potentially highly relevant to The Brightside Trust as it specifically advocates mentoring as part of a skills and training packages (for example see page 14)