Select committee hears of skills shortage

Following a skills shortage report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Lord Leitch has given evidence to the innovation, universities and skills select committee.

Lord Leitch reported that nine in ten organisations believe the government should do more to make sure that young people have the relevant skills when they leave full-time education.

According to the CIPD, less than one in six employers have signed the Employer Skills Pledge, although half of employers are considering signing up agreement or the Train to Gain initiative.

Commenting on the select committee hearing, CIPD policy advisor Sarah Van Der Heyden said: "There is no doubting the government's commitment to making the UK a skills leader by 2020.

"But there is more work to be done to convince employers that the government has the right answers to the problem."

Earlier this year select committee chair Phil Willis said that science-based skills should remain high priority when it comes to parliamentary scrutiny.