Commerce & Employment launches public consultation on upskilling report

Thursday 11 February 2010

Frontier Economics’ report on the strategic review of Guernsey’s work related learning and training needs, provision and delivery has been released today.

The report:-

• identifies where the skills gaps exist in Guernsey’s workforce,
• makes recommendations for the creation of a Skills Agency and the development of a skills strategy for the Island, and
• makes recommendations on the potential future role of the GTA University Centre alongside other work related learning and training providers in the Island.

The Department is inviting comments on Frontier’s recommendations.

Commerce & Employment Department Minister Deputy Carla McNulty Bauer said, “The Commerce and Employment Department Board is very pleased indeed with the approach taken by the Frontier Economics team to carrying out this important task and we are very grateful to all those employers that participated in the skills needs survey that complemented the review. As part of the project, Frontier Economics consulted extensively with both publicly funded and private sector training providers, leaders of a wide range of industry representative bodies, stakeholder States Departments and individual members of the business community. The substantial engagement with a wide range of stakeholders is reflected in the quality of Frontier Economics’ report”.

The Minister continued, “C&E’s most significant investment in funding training lies with its annual grant to the GTA - £435,000 in 2009. Undeniably a major part of the review and the report focuses on the GTA. However, Frontier has taken an holistic approach and examined the whole range of publicly funded and private sector training provision and delivery provided in Guernsey”, she said.

The Commerce and Employment Minister said she is delighted with the esteem in which the GTA is held by the business community and which is evident throughout the whole report, but the long term funding of the organisation needs to be addressed.

“A major recommendation of Frontier’s report is the development of an inter-Departmental Skills Agency which can only help to reduce the perception of Departments doing their own thing. The Agency, as proposed, would also work closely with an industry Advisory Group in the development and implementation of an integrated work related skills strategy”, she said.

Deputy McNulty Bauer feels that the potential changes to work related skills delivery fit in very well with Tribal Helm’s aim to achieve efficiencies and savings in the public sector and commented, “Frontier Economics have reinforced some of the key messages of the Financial Transformation Programme, in terms of delivering services effectively, efficiently and sustainably. The approach recommended by Frontier will provide a means of ensuring that public delivery is targeted, effective and achieves best value for money. Upskilling our workforce is key to Guernsey’s future economic success and I would encourage all interested parties to respond to this consultation”.

Commerce and Employment is seeking the views of training providers, employers and members of the public on the principal recommendations of Frontier Economics. A copy of the consultation document can be accessed on line at www.gov.gg by 06 April 2010.