The Skills Pledge

The Skills Pledge is a voluntary, public commitment by the leadership of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2 (equivalent to 5 good GCSEs). The purpose is to ensure that all staff are skilled, competent and able to make a full contribution to the success of the company/organisation.

The Pledge can be given by the Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer, owner/manager or other Board member, on behalf of the organisation. It is a corporate commitment covering the whole company/organisation. For those employees who do not already have a full Level 2 qualification, the Government will provide funding to help them gain basic literacy and numeracy skills as well as their first full Level 2 qualification.

The Skills Pledge is open to all employers of all sizes in the private, public and voluntary sectors.

What is the purpose of the Skills Pledge?
Research shows that one of the keys to a productive, successful business is having a skilled and competent workforce. The Skills Pledge is an opportunity for the leaders of a business or organisation to show publicly and demonstrably the importance they place on investing in the skills of their people. Why is the Skills Pledge important for the economy?

If the UK economy is to compete with other advanced economies, and the new emerging economies such as India and China, we will have to invest more in skills. The case was set out starkly in the Leitch Report on Skills, published in December 2006. Without a better skilled and qualified workforce, we will not improve our productivity, and therefore we will not sustain the living standards and quality of public services we all want. The Skills Pledge recognises that everyone – the employee, the organisation and the Government – will need to invest more in skills.

How do I make the Pledge?
You, as an employer, can make the Skills Pledge with the help of a skills broker or if you would prefer to make your Skills Pledge independently and in your own time please visit the Train to Gain website on http://www.traintogain.gov.uk/skillspledge.