Government moves to align skills and
business agendas have some "definite merits", according to the
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has said there could be a number of benefits reaped from recent moves to bring skills and business agendas closer together. This was in response to the announcement that the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will be merging. It made the statement soon after prime minister Gordon Brown announced a cabinet reshuffle.
When the two bodies merge, they will form the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and it is hoped that this will help companies in the UK provide more effective staff training for workers. John Philpott, CIPD public policy director, commented: "The biggest challenge in raising skills and boosting UK productivity is ensuring leadership and management skills are up to scratch. While he voiced some concerns about the timing of the decision, he said there are some "definite merits" in taking steps to make the business agenda more closely aligned with the skills agenda. Mr Philpott said the CIPD will "welcome the opportunity to work with Lord Mandelson and his team on the crucial skills challenges that will shape the UK’s ability to thrive well beyond this current downturn". In the recent cabinet reshuffle, the DIUS secretary of state John Denham left the skills and staff training sector to become the communities secretary. This comes after Jacqui Symons, HR manager at full service law firm BP Collins said that staff training is particularly important during the recession. She noted that people are "assets" so it is important to continue developing them and their abilities.
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