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UK's Sector Skills Councils appoint first Alliance CEO

27 February 2009

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils new Chief Executive John McNamara has taken up his post as its first CEO. The Alliance, formed in 2008, is the collective voice of all 25 of the UK's Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) including Government Skills. Its first CEO will be the champion for these employer-driven organisations that together articulate the voice of the employers of around 90 per cent of the UK's workforce on skills issues.

As Chief Executive John McNamara will seek to establish the Alliance as the voice of the UK Sector Skills Councils, promoting the vital role SSCs play across all four nations of the UK. He joins the Alliance with a full inbox of skills issues. Paramount is the economic recession and the impact this is having on employers and their people. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) have a vital role to play in helping to equip the UK workforce with new skills and competencies to ensure that we are well placed for a strong and sustainable recovery.

The relicensing of SSCs and the Qualification Reform programme are also key areas of development during 2009.

Mr McNamara said,

“My first job is to make sure that the Alliance represents its members effectively with Government and its agencies and the whole range of stakeholders who are involved in the UK skills system. Our membership has access to the nation's employers and, consequently, has unrivalled knowledge of what skills are needed now and in the future. 2009 will be a difficult year for companies. Skills are at the heart of solving the UK's problems and the Alliance's membership has many of the solutions.”

Notes to editors:

1. Government Skills was the licensed Sector Skills Council for central government from 1 January 2006 until 30 June 2010. From 1 July 2010 Government Skills continues to be the skills body responsible for central government, working with employers across the sector.