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Skills strategy consultation

The voluntary sector, like any other sector, needs a skilled workforce in order to thrive and provide quality services, particularly in the face of rising demands about what it can and should deliver.

A National Skills Strategy is a crucial tool for supporting a skilled workforce. Be part of developing that strategy. The consultation is open now.

What you’ve said so far

At the beginning of August we produced an interim report that summarises what you’ve told us so far during our consultation into a national skills framework for the voluntary sector.

You can read our interim report here. We have also sent this report to the Department of Business Industry and Skills (BIS) as part of the consultation they are running on a national skills strategy for ALL sectors of the economy (see below).

Taking part in the consultation on a skills framework for our sector

There are several ways you can help to develop the the skills framework for the voluntary sector.

1. Fill in the online consultation

2. Join in the discussions on the discussion board

3. Tell us about the examples of good skills development for the voluntary sector that you know about by emailing us.

4. Join us at one of the regional roundtables. The dates for the regional roundtables are:

  • 9 July, London
  • 13 July, West Midlands – Birmingham
  • 15 July, Yorkshire & Humber - Leeds
  • 20 July, South East – Guildford
  • 22 July, North East – Newcastle
  • 1 September, East Midlands – Leicester
  • 2 September, Eastern Region – Cambridge
  • 7 September, South West – Taunton / Exeter
  • 10 September, North West - Manchester

They are open by application only. If you would like to apply for a place please email us giving your name, organisation, role and contact details.

Our ideas so far for the national skills strategy for the voluntary sector are published in the National Skills Strategy framework. This sets out the research we have based our ideas on, four priority skills areas this research suggests that we need and our ideas for the delivery principles that will help ensure the sector has access to good quality skills development.

For information about the recent policy announcements that affect skills in our sector read The voluntary sector skills landscape.

The consultation will be Compact compliant and run from now through to September of this year. We will publish the findings of the consultation and the National Skills Strategy for the Voluntary Sector by the end of 2010.

Please encourage your colleagues and other people in your networks to get involved.

The more views we have the more the skills strategy will be able to represent the diverse interests and needs of our sector.

Be part of it. Make your views count. Join the consultation.

BIS Consultation on the future of skills

BIS (Department for Business, Innovation and Skills) is consulting on the future of a national skills policy and Skills - Third Sector are preparing a response and encouraging other organisations to have their say.

We have submitted a response to the BIS consultation and produced a series of documents that summarise the background materials that inform the BIS consultation to make it easier for charities and social enterprises to let BIS know what their skills needs are too. You can read our response and download the Skills - Third Sector summary documents by following the links.


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