News and features

Mon, 8 Dec 2008

Denham unveils new skills academies

Minister confirms four successful applications for new National Skills Academies.

John Denham, the secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills, has announced which applicants have been successful in their bid to set up National Skills Academies (NSA).

The NSA for the Power Sector (which is led by the likes of E-On and EDF Energy), the NSA for Social Care (Skills for Care, Department of Health), the NSA for Information Technology (e-skills, BT) and the NSA for Enterprise (the Peter Jones Foundation) will now all enter the business planning stage following the completion of the fourth round.

Once the academies are set up, the number of sanctioned NSAs operating in the UK will be 16.

Mr Denham's department has pledged to invest in the future of the UK's labour force and aims to help the economy by working closely with big business in order to make sure people get the skills they need.

Its mission statement outlines goals to "develop the skills of our people to the fullest possible extent, carry out world class research and scholarship and apply both knowledge and skills to create an innovative and competitive economy".

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