17 November 2005
SMITH SETS 10,000 APPRENTICESHIP TARGET FOR NORTHERN IRELAND BY 2010
Market trends here show that more employers are seeking professionally and technically trained staff other than those with academic qualifications.
Emphasising the need to address the changing job market trends, Employment and Learning Minister Angela Smith, in a speech to delegates attending today's GMB Trade Union Conference in Belfast, said: "As the Department begins to implement the Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland, I believe we must take a strategic approach to acquiring the skills necessary to enable us to take advantage of future opportunities. We must also make sure that the skills of our workforce match the skills needed for Northern Ireland to meet future economic competition.
"The Northern Ireland economy has changed dramatically in the past 10 years and our unemployment rate is at an all time low, but we are experiencing skills shortages in the professional and technical sectors. I intend, therefore, to raise the number of apprentices in training here to 10,000 by 2010. To achieve this, it is vital that government, universities, colleges, employers and trade unions all work together to identify the skills we need now and in the future."
During today's conference, themed under the banner headline of "Re-Thinking Apprenticeships", Angela Smith also detailed a number of current initiatives geared to addressing the skills agenda further, including:
- The formation of the Skills for Business Network involving co-operation between government, universities, colleges, employers and trade unions to facilitate a co-ordinated approach to skills matching employment needs.
- The Vocational Enhancement Programme in schools guaranteeing every pupil over 14 years old the chance to receive up to one third of their education through vocational provision.
- A consultation paper on university participation rates here which is already in excess of the government target of 50%.
- The current review of the Jobskills Programme and its future impact on skills delivery here.
In conclusion, Angela Smith reaffirmed her commitment to making important links between education and training and the economy and added: "I would argue that the routes to individual success are many and varied but we must make the links between education and training and the skills our economy need and be prepared for market-led strategic change".
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- Today's GMB Conference was held at Belfast City Hall and attracted delegates from the education and training sectors and public/private employers.
- The GMB is a general union of 700,000 people. The union today is the sum of a number of mergers of longstanding trades unions covering several production and service sectors and trades.
- Media enquiries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7790.
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