Key Leitch Review adviser claims there is ‘substantial’ private sector backing for skills pledge

The government is expected to reveal a host of private sector signatures when it finally unveils the Leitch skills pledge on Thursday.

A key adviser to the Leitch Review told Personnel Today that he was expecting to see “substantial” private sector interest in the pledge.

Stephen Evans, chief economist at the Social Market Foundation think-tank and head of policy development on the Leitch Review, said: “There has been lots of public sector commitment, and I expect to see substantial private sector interest when the pledge is launched.”

The review, led by Lord Sandy Leitch, recommended in December 2006 that employers should commit to train all their employees to Level 2 by 2010.

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Employers and the government’s own skills envoy Sir Digby Jones have criticised the government’s lack of activity since that report.

Phil Morgan, head of external and public affairs at the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, said: “[The government] is not giving employers the information they need to make decisions on the skills pledge.”