UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)

In this recession, employability skills are more important than ever. While qualifications are essential, getting a job is often dependent on an individual's ability to demonstrate employability skills — the right attitudes, behaviours and skills.

In February 2009 UKCES launched The Employability Challenge report in response to employers' concerns, about why, after years of discussion about and definitions of employability skills, far too few candidates for recruitment have these skills.

The report draws on the expertise and practice of over 200 organisations and boils their experiences down to six core principles aimed at helping learners develop employability skills — principles that every school, college, university and training provider can make their own.

Teachers are at the forefront of helping young people prepare for the world of work — The Employability Challenge contains insights and ideas for helping more young people realise their potential in the workplace.

The report can be downloaded here.

The UK Commission for Employment and Skills

Launched on 1 April 2008 UKCES was a key recommendation in Lord Leitch's 2006 review Prosperity for All in the Global Economy: World-Class Skills. Primarily advisory in nature, UKCES is an employer-led organisation, with commissioners drawn from the highest levels of private, public and voluntary organisations, supported by leaders from trades unions and learning providers.

The UK Commission aims to raise UK prosperity and opportunity by helping to create world class employment and skills systems in the four nations. To achieve this, the UK Commission will provide independent advice to the highest levels of the UK Government and Devolved Administrations on improving employment and skills in the context of a fast-changing global economy.