Government Skills
Government Skills is the skills body body responsible for central government and the armed forces, and works with employers across the sector.
From 1 January 2006 to 30 June 2010 Government Skills was a Sector Skills Council, licensed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. It did not seek to be relicensed after its licence expired.
Since 1 July 2010 it continues to be responsible for developing the skills strategy for central government and working with employers to implement it. Government Skills continues to have responsibility for setting approving standards, qualifications and apprenticeship frameworks for the sector.
Like all Sector Skills Councils (SSCs), Government Skills went through a process of relicensing in 2009, during which its performance was assessed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).
The Commissioners were encouraged by the progress that had been made to develop Government Skills into an effective organisation and impressed by its early achievements in agreeing a skills strategy, but noted that it has a relatively narrow footprint. They therefore offered employers the choice between an extension of the remit of Government Skills to cover local as well as central government or continuing to deliver its remit as an internal skills body within the civil service. Employers chose the second option. From 1 July 2010 Government Skills continues on this basis, leading the delivery of the Skills Strategy for Government.
Government Skills continues to work closely with the UKCES and other SSCs to improve the delivery of public services across the public sector. Government Skills remains an active player in the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils.
Government Skills’ purpose is to improve the delivery of public services by working with central government employers to reduce skills gaps and shortages, in order to improve productivity. It covers all civil servants in departments and agencies (including those in the devolved administrations and the Northern Ireland Civil Service), staff in non-departmental government bodies and the Armed Forces. In total, this adds up to around 800,000 staff.
Government Skills has specific responsibility to maintain and review the National Occupational Standards that apply within the sector, and the associated qualifications. Government Skills also collects and communicates data on skills gaps and needs within the sector.
SkillsPlus UK is the skills partnership for local government.
It is a strategic skills partnership between local government employers in the UK and Sector Skills Councils. SkillsPlus UK is made up of seven skills bodies that have joined to support the improvement of skills, training and development in the local government sector.
SkillsPlus UK is hosted by Local Government Employers (LGE) and is jointly managed by the LGE and the Improvement and Development Agency, an organisation for employers in local government.
Government Skills is overseen by the Civil Service Capability Board, whose members are drawn from cross central government. The Capability Board exists to enhance the effectiveness of the public service through learning and skills development.
For organisational purposes, Government Skills is based in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Government Skills receives funding from BIS and contributions from all its employers. It receives funding for standards and qualifications work from the UKCES.
Since it was established in 2006, Government Skills, through the Skills Strategy and working with employers, has:
