Press Release
8th March 2000
Skills Boost for Scottish Business
Member of the Scottish Parliament for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, today welcomed the launch of a campaign to boost skills levels in Scottish business.
The scheme, launched yesterday, aims to increase the number of workers gaining Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs).
Commenting, Mr McNeil said:
"The regeneration of Inverclyde depends on us embracing the knowledge economy and having a highly skilled, highly motivated workforce.
"In today’s industry you create your own job security and, to be blunt, if you’re not learning, you’re not earning.
"Seventeen thousand people gain SVQs every year and their uptake continues to increase by between 15 and 20 per cent annually.
"SVQs are effective and valuable qualifications for people of all ages. They recognise and reward improved skills levels amongst employees.
"As they are based on national occupational standards set by employers, they are relevant and focused. They prove that people can do particular jobs to defined standards.
"As a result, SVQs can improve customer service, quality of goods and services, staff development and training, competitiveness, and employee morale and motivation.
"Businesses in Inverclyde can accrue great benefits from having a well-trained and motivated workforce.
"There is however no room for complacency. While SVQ uptake has been high in many areas, over 300 of almost 700 SVQs currently accredited by the SQA have had no entries recorded. There is considerable scope for improving their uptake.
"We must develop, train and equip our people with the skills and qualifications which Scotland's economy requires. Scotland is well placed to meet this challenge, and SVQs have the potential to play a major part in the process."
ENDS
Notes:
1. The SVQ Solutions Conference is the fifth in a series organised jointly by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Council of National Training Organisations, with assistance from The Scottish Executive.
2. The aim of the Conferences is to highlight best practice in SVQs; share experiences; encourage uptake, consider how implementation problems can be overcome, and demonstrate the collective support of the sponsoring bodies for SVQs. They also have a particular focus on the business benefits offered by SVQs and on considering how more small and medium-sized businesses can become involved.
3. Along with the NVQs available in England, SVQs form a UK-wide framework of work-based qualifications. They are based on UK-wide national occupational standards of competence set by National Training Organisations.
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