This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Alasdair Morrison Brings Training Organisations To The Heart Of Glasgow
23/01/2001
Alasdair Morrison, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, today opened a new one-stop business 'hub' in Glasgow for training agencies.
The centre will provide a base for training agencies to work together and drive forward the Scottish Executive's programme to raise skills and make Scots job ready for tomorrow's jobs.
The facility will allow meetings with partner organisations located in the city. The centre will complement the existing Scottish Council for National Training Organisations (SCONTO) facility in Edinburgh.
Mr Morrison said:
"I have high expectations of NTOs as key players in our programme to deliver the skills needed for greater competitiveness and employability. If the NTO network is to be an effective and credible force in Scotland, NTOs must be seen to have an active presence in different parts of the country.
"This new facility illustrates the desire and commitment of NTOs to represent their sectors effectively in Scotland. Employability is the key to Scotland's future economic security. Our aim is to have every Scot ready for the jobs of tomorrow, and to improving the matching of people to the 4,433 vacancies in Glasgow and 29,000 across Scotland.
"The Business Hub is an appropriate place for NTOs to meet in Glasgow. The hot-desking facilities will provide a valuable resource for flexible working with ready access to a range of business services, such as personal computers and video conferencing facilities. Most important, it brings the NTO network into the heart of the learning infrastructure in Glasgow.
"NTOs need to encourage employers to invest more in training. We look to NTOs to ensure that employers understand the benefits of that investment.
"I am conscious of the important role which SCONTO has to play in supporting the network in Scotland, and in providing the necessary links with key organisations located here in Glasgow."
BACKGROUND
The employer-led National Training Organisations are UK-wide bodies which represent employment sectors or occupational groups. The NTOs were set up in 1997 and replaced Industry Lead Bodies, Occupational Standards Councils and Industry Training Organisations. NTOs are formally recognised by the Department for Education and Employment, after consultation with the equivalent Departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
NTOs are responsible for developing and maintaining national occupational standards of competence for jobs within their sectors, upon which Scottish Vocational Qualifications are based. They also gather labour market intelligence for their sectors and influence government policy and education and training provision to ensure that employer needs in their sector are met.
NTOs are also engaged in providing information about skills shortages based on the detailed knowledge of their sectors. Sector-based NTOs are required to conduct periodic Skills Foresight surveys and produce workforce development plans for their sector.
News Release: SE0123/2001
23 Jan 2001