The Government has kept its promise to put business in the driving seat of post-16 education by appointing a high profile businessman as chairman of the national Learning and Skills Council.
Bryan Sanderson, group managing director of BP Amoco and chief executive of BP Amoco Chemicals, will take the helm at the body responsible for the training of 6 million people over the age of 16.
Nick Reilly, chairman and managing director of Vauxhall Motors and head of the Business Champions Group – which aims to get business people involved with the LSCs – welcomed the appointment, saying it will give business the chance to build the links it needs with the education system.
“We will be able to influence more effectively the type of learning which is on offer to people and help to increase the supply of skilled labour available to us. This appointment will definitely bring education and business people more closely together,” he said.
He called for business people to volunteer for the boards of the 47 local skills councils, which will replace Tecs from April next year.
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“It is essential that these people identify key local business issues for the LSC to address,” said Reilly. “The future of our businesses will rely upon the success of the Learning and Skills Councils.”
