Skills, skills, skills

Who recalls Tony Blair’s ‘Education. Education. Education.’ speech?

It was back in 1996, ahead of Labour’s landslide General Election victory and an attempt at ‘levelling up’.

If that speech was being made today, I’d argue it should be ‘Skills. Skills. Skills.’

Everyone who knows me, knows that I’m passionate about anything skills-related – whether it’s upskilling, reskilling or sharing the message that skills really matter.

Without highly-skilled individuals and workforces our industries will not be able to compete against global competitors in today’s high-pressure markets.

Without forward-thinking leaders and innovators in businesses large and small, we’ll not be able to anticipate and train the skills which are needed for tomorrow, to ensure we remain ahead of the curve.

That’s why the discussion about skills must always remain at the very top of the agenda.

That’s why, during my time at Burnley College, I’ve made talking to employers a top priority, so we can work with you to train the workforce of the future and ensure our training and curriculum offer matches your needs.

I’ve attended industry forums; round table events; advisory boards; board meetings and welcomed countless employers and industry leaders to college to hear their views. And it’s all about skills.

That’s why, going forward, I’ll be pressing national industry bodies and the government to introduce an annual pot of money that employers can access to fund or part-fund skills training in their business.

I’ll never tire of banging the drum for skills.

It’s something I recognised from the very start of my own career – as an engineering apprentice – skills matter.

It’s what I emphasised to teams of trainers I’ve led across the world, supporting the development of apprentices.

It’s what I’ve talked to my own son about – and the scores of apprentices I’ve had the privilege of guiding as they’ve started out on their career journeys.

Skills open the door to success – whether that’s for an individual; a business or a country.

In 2023 expect to hear the word Skills a lot more from me.