Essential Skills - Leading the way in the public sector

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today welcomed human resources and training representatives from across the public sector as he opened the first ever Essential Skills workplace learning conference.

The aim of the conference, entitled “Leading the Way in the Public Sector”, was to promote the value and importance of Essential Skills in the workplace and to showcase best practice across various public sector organisations, including health trusts and local government.

In his opening address, the Minister emphasised that Essential Skills lay at the heart of driving the wider skills agenda forward and, despite the difficult economic climate, it remained a top government priority.

He said: “The public sector cannot remain immune to raising productivity. Indeed, it was one of the key messages coming out of Sir David Varney’s 2008 report on the competitiveness of Northern Ireland.

"In the years ahead, we need to develop new sectors in which to become a world leader.

“We will need to close the productivity gap with the rest of the UK and, to do so, must build on our core strengths, particularly the skilled workforce. Whilst the focus of Varney was principally the private sector, the lessons need to be embraced by the public sector.”

Sir Reg added that improved literacy, numeracy and ICT skills among employees bring about tremendous benefits, both to the individuals themselves and their organisations. He stressed his commitment to helping those in work with low skills to stay in work through better assessment of their learning needs and the provision of high quality training. He said: “We need to unlock the talents of all our people by building, not only on the flow of highly-skilled new entrants, but also by ensuring that those with little or no skills are helped to move up the ladder.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The conference, "Leading the Way in the Public Sector,” took place in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast.
2. All media enquiries to Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on telephone 028 9025 7872. Outside office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned