The executive director of the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing has been named as the new chair of the Strategic Network of National Skills Academies.
Justine Fosh will officially take the post in September, replacing outgoing chair Jean Llewellyn of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear.
The Strategic Network is a co-ordinating body for the National Skills Academies within the UK covering a diverse range of industries from construction to hospitality. Set up with funding from the government and industry, the skills academies operate as independent, employer-led bodies ensuring that businesses in their sectors have easy access to the highest quality, relevant training.
Ms Fosh said: “This is an exciting time for the National Skills Academy network – initial government funding for the first four skills academies is coming to an end and they are well placed to continue delivering benefits to employers independently. These four skills academies alone have delivered learning to over 30,000 new learners, have generated around £4m of contribution from employers and have supported more than 450 companies. The skills academies which have followed in the wake of the first four are already well established and are adding significantly to these accomplishments.
“The network faces some key challenges in the coming months. The Learning and Skills Council is being replaced by three new strategic bodies which will assume responsibility for skills funding, and upheaval resulting from a general election is likely to bring about more change to the infrastructure and spending priorities of government.
“Despite this, we remain hugely optimistic about the future. Infrastructures may change with politics, but the need to offer employers accessible, relevant, high quality training remains constant. As long as skills academies continue to remain focussed on working with employers in their sectors, delivering solutions that businesses need, they will continue to enjoy support from employers and will increasingly be seen as a vital partner for industry and a key component in ensuring UK companies have the skills base to remain competitive.”
If you are interested in getting involved in the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink Manufacturing, visit http://www.foodanddrink.nsacademy.co.uk/
