The sector skills councils are a combination of 25 councils that work in partnership to create increased employer investment in skills which will drive creativity and create jobs making sustainable economic growth. The sector skills council was first established in 2008, on the 1st of April. Formally the Sector skills development agency (SSDA) was responsible for funding, supporting and monitoring and managing industries that do not meet up to the minimum standards, this was later replaced by the UKCES. The sector skills council has a responsibility to reduce skills gaps and shortages and to improve productivity.
They also have a responsibility to boost the skills of their sector workforces and to improve learning supply. Its core purpose is to: Promote understanding of the role of SSCs within the skills system across the four home nations Co-ordinate policy positions and strategic work on skills with stakeholders across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Help build the performance capability of the Sector Skills Councils, to ensure they continue to work effectively on the employer-driven skills agenda Sector skills councils (SSCs) are independent, employer-led, UK-wide organisations. They are committed to working across all four nations;
England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
They provide the employer leadership to address skills needs within and across sectors. They provide training and help for a range of different organisations. Some of the commissioners include; McDonalds, John Lewis, Disability Rights UK, Centre Point, Turning Point The job of each Sector Skills Council will be to agree priorities and targets with its employers and partners to address 4 main goals: 1. Reducing skills gaps and shortages
2. Improving productivity, business and public service performance 3. Increasing opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector’s workforce, including action on equal opportunities 4. Improving learning supply, including apprenticeships, higher education and national occupational standards They strive to give the best productivity so that workforces don’t slack in their performance, pushing them to do the best of their ability and then improving their ability to push it even further. They give workers more opportunities so they have other ways and chances to enhance and improve their skills to further advance their qualifications to give them more work opportunities. They also offer educations and apprenticeships etc. This is for those wishing to get into the line of work but lacking the qualifications necessary to do so, this also improves their service as they have a larger, stronger workforce. Health Care Professional Council, HCPC
The second overarching organisation is the HCPC, which is the Health Care Professional Council, formerly known as the health professionals council, HPC, was established in 2003 under the National Health Service Reform and the Health Care Professions Act 2002. Their main aim is to maintain and publish a public register of properly qualified members of profession including dieticians, paramedics, social workers etc. They are responsible for approving and upholding high standards of education, training and good practice. They promote awareness and understanding of the aims of the council and work in partnership with the public and other groups of professional bodies. The HCPC are also responsible for investigating complaints and taking appropriate action where it is deemed necessary.