Skillset relicensed to continue championing skills for the Creative Media Industries
Skillset has received a new licence from Government as a Sector Skills Council. This means that we can continue our work as the industry body supporting skills, education and training for the UK's Creative Media Industries.
After a rigorous assessment process conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO), Skillset was given an overall rating in the upper end of the Government's "good" category with highlights including:
- Skillset's "strong track record of close engagement with the Creative Media Industries";
- Our work in Higher Education with the Skillset Academy Network; and
- Our work to meet the individual needs of the four nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Skillset will continue to engage and support employers to ensure that skills issues remain a priority; particularly as the Creative Media Industries face the challenges of shifts in digital technology and a tough economic climate.
It is Skillset's view that skills and training have never been as important to the Creative Media Industries' future. We are leading the way in preparing tomorrow's creative media workforce by consulting with industry on the effects of the economic downturn. To help us respond quickly to the specific challenges of the recession please complete our Skills Implications of the Recession Questionnaire
For more details on Skillset's relicensing please read the Q&A below and see the press release.
Relicensing Questions and Answers
What is the relicensing process?
What is the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)?
How long has Skillset been given the licence for?
How was the relicensing decision made?
Was Skillset given a particular rating?
What areas were highlighted as particular strengths of Skillset?
A small number of areas were identified as areas for particular improvement. What were these?
What is Skillset doing to improve in these areas?
Broadly, what other plans does Skillset have to move the organisation forward?
What is the relicensing process?
Skillset is one of 25 Skill Sector Councils (SSCs) currently operating across different sectors of the UK economy. All SSCs are licensed by Government and the devolved administrations.
Lord Leitch's 2006 'Prosperity for all in the global economy - World Class Skills' set out a vision for world class skills in the UK by 2020. It also reported that SSC performance across the network was ‘patchy'. Given the centrality of SSCs to delivering the sectoral dimension of Leitch's vision it was recommended that there should be a rigorous relicensing process to ‘reform, relicense and empower SSCs'.
All 25 SSCs are undergoing a rigorous relicensing assessment to ensure that they are fit for purpose. It is not a given that all SSCs will be re-licensed.
Skillset is one of five SSCs in the first phase of the assessment process, which is overseen and managed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
What is the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)?
The UKCES was established in 2008 to benefit employers, individuals and government by advising how improved employment and skills systems can help the UK become a world-class leader in productivity, in employment and in having a fair and inclusive society. Within it's remit the UKCES is responsible for the licensing and funding of SSCs.
How long has Skillset been given the licence for?
It is open-ended and will come into effect on 1 June 2009.
How was the relicensing decision made?
The assessment criteria are set out in the Relicensing Framework for Sector Skills Councils:
Relicensing Framework for Sector Skills Councils
This included Skillset submitting evidence to support its case for relicensing, which was assessed by an independent third party, the National Audit Office (NAO). A team from the NAO spent a week on site carrying out scores of interviews with employers, trade unions, public agencies, government across the UK and almost two-thirds of staff. For more information please visit the UKCES website
A report was then produced by the NAO outlining their findings:
A Review by the National Audit Office, April 2009: Skillset
A UKCES Commissioner also spent a day at Skillset to interview people and Skillset's Chief Executive and Chair appeared before the UK Commission Re-Licensing Panel made up of UKCES Commissioners and chaired by Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership.
Was Skillset given a particular rating?
We have been assessed "as performing to a high standard in most aspects of our work and achieved an overall assessment in the upper part of the "good" category". The decision concluded that Skillset is a "well run SSC", which provides "a clear, credible and coherent voice for employers on the skills and qualification needs of the sector". It was also found that we "address sector skill priorities" and set "ambitious and realistic targets".
What areas were highlighted as particular strengths of Skillset?
We were assessed as being "particularly strong" in two areas:
- Our partnership with the Higher Education sector to develop Screen and Media Academies.
- The way we have worked across the four nations to achieve our objectives.
A small number of areas were identified as areas for particular improvement. What were these?
More robust long-term financial planning and the development of impact measures - both of which we have already done much to address. The UKCES Re-Licensing Panel also recommended that that Skillset should fall into the low risk band for ongoing performance assessment.
What is Skillset doing to improve in these areas?
We have already done much to address the areas for improvement identified. For example, we have a three year financial plan in place but we are also re-forecasting our budget on a monthly basis with our Finance and General Purposes Committee. We have also developed a new Evaluation Strategy and have identified resources to take our impact and evaluation work on to the next level during the 2009-10 financial year.
Broadly, what other plans does Skillset have to move the organisation forward?
Skillset has a strong track record for continuous improvement and we see the value and opportunities provided by this extremely thorough and rigorous evaluation of our work. We are looking closely at how we can demonstrate and communicate the added value of the work that we undertake on behalf of our industries and how we can focus our resources more effectively for maximise our impact.
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