The Children, Skills and Learning Bill aims to improve schools and reform the apprenticeship system in England and is expected to help create a more demand-led skills base serving both learners and employers.
However, no mention was made of a business rates supplement bill, included in a draft programme published in May, which was also expected to impact on the waste sector.
Addressing both Houses of Parliament, the Queen said: “My government will bring forward a bill to reform education, training and apprenticeships, to promote excellence in all schools, to improve local services for children and to provide a right for those in work to request time for training.”
Skills
While details of the education and skills bill are yet to be confirmed, a paper published in May 2008 outlining the draft proposals indicated that it would strengthen apprenticeships by providing a statutory basis for the apprenticeship programme, creating a National Apprenticeship Service and establishing a statutory entitlement to apprenticeships for all suitably qualified young people, as well as ensuring that schools provide a comprehensive careers service and information about apprenticeships.
From 2013, it is believed that any suitably qualified young person will be given an entitlement to an apprenticeship.
The bill is also expected to create an adult advancement and careers service within a new Skills Funding Agency and to strengthen workplace skills trading, including creating a right for employees to request time from their employer to undertake relevant training.
The announcement is likely to be welcomed by many in the waste management industry who have championed the importance of training and skills. It is also thought to be important as there could be a possible skills shortage in the sector in future, as the industry becomes more technologically advanced and requires more specialist expertise.
Organisations including the Environmental Services Association have expressed an interest in the bill and a spokesman told letsrecycle.com today that the organisation would be assessing the specifics of the draft legislation when it became available.
The ESA spokesman said: “”The transition of the UK's waste management sector towards being a high value-added process-based industry is increasing the demand for staff with science, technology and engineering (STEM) skills. Closer links between industry and higher education institutions are essential for increasing the supply of such people.
“Current demand for candidates for STEM skills in the waste management sector is already far exceeding supply, which must be improved through the development of suitable apprenticeship courses,” he added.
Commenting on the bill, Steve Lee, CIWM chief executive, added: “CIWM believes that giving individuals greater access to training and industry-relevant qualifications is essential for the future of the waste and resource management industry.
“However, it is also vital that all waste professionals continue to develop their skills to stay ahead in this fast changing sector, and continuing competence is a strong theme in the CIWM/ WAMITAB Operator Competence Scheme currently undergoing approval by Defra.”
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