Home > News > April 2006 > 10-Apr-2006

Chief executives urged 'to work for the greater good'

Chief executives should get more involved in the nation's drive to boost skills, setting aside fears that working for the greater good helps competitors, said Paul Wilkinson, chairman of Improve, the food and drink Sector Skills Council.

Mr Wilkinson, who is also a board member at the Sector Skills Development Agency , was speaking at the annual convention dinner of the British Chambers of Commerce at the QEII Conference Centre in London, on Monday 3 April.

He urged that if the UK is to remain competitive in an increasingly global market, chief executives need to assume personal responsibility for ensuring that their businesses contribute to the development of better training for their industry. "Then, no longer will employers be able to complain that the output of the secondary and higher education systems is not reflecting the market needs," he said.

"The Treasury, the Department for Education and Skills, and the Department for Trade and Industry are all committed to the skills agenda. The biggest risk to our success is lack of employer engagement.

"Chief executives seem to regard personnel issues as ones to delegate to the HR director. And there is a reluctance to get involved, driven by the fear of the 'free-rider' - the fear that working for the greater good diverts resources and potentially helps a competitor.

"The hope that training resources will be there when needed, or can be bought, seems the soft option. To rely on this for the future is full of risk, and that is why sector skills councils are vital. We are the voice of employers in shaping demand for better skills. We are on a mission. We need to harness your knowledge and resources to work with us on achieving our vision."

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