Tarmac reinforce commitment to skills

Company one of the first to sign up to statement for action at government Skills Summit 

TARMAC have become one of the first signatories of a statement of action for skills, which will see the UK government and employers collaborating to improve apprenticeships and technical education.

Reinforcing their corporate commitment to skills and being an employer of choice, Tarmac were among a group of Britain’s top businesses present at the launch of the Government’s Skills Summit, brought together to help spearhead a major reform programme.

Hosted in Whitehall and supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, Secretary of State for Education, told the audience of employers representing more than 3.5 million UK employees that enlisting their support in training the next generation of highly skilled British workers is the key to creating a country fit for the future.

Graeme Boylen, Tarmac’s HR director, also attended a private meeting, along with other UK business leaders, with the Secretary of State ahead of the main summit.

The businesses in attendance were also the first to be invited to work in a new partnership with government to deliver a skills revolution, and to sign up to a statement of action in partnership with government.

Mr Boylen said: ‘We were delighted to be welcomed to the Department for Education’s Skills Summit to collaborate with the Government on its new skills policy and we take great pride in being among the first signatories of the statement for action.

‘At Tarmac, we are committed to nurturing new talent and providing people with pathways into high-quality career opportunities in construction. Delivering projects in our industry that are critical to the UK’s future success requires skilled people and we’re pleased that this partnership will help to create a new world-class technical education system.’

Justine Greening said: ‘This government is investing in developing our home-grown talent so British business has the skills it needs and so that young people can get the opportunities they want.

‘We are determined to work in partnership with business to provide them opportunities to match the talent across the country. That is why this government is investing billions in technical education and why…I am calling on employers to bring their innovation, creativity and commitment to technical education reform. Only employers can provide the work placements and apprenticeships that make these reforms a success.’

The statement of action is said to mark the start of a new partnership between government and employers to create a technical education system that will help people reach their potential, regardless of background.

The Education Secretary also used the Summit to launch new Institutes of Technology (IoTs) with applicants able to bid for £170 million of funding. IoTs will be collaborations by employers and higher/further education colleges, and will specialize in science, technology, engineering and maths, providing students with qualifications that are highly sought after by local employers.