5 September 2006

BPIF member featured in CBI report on employers’ priorities for functional skills

BPIF member Cantate Print has been featured as a case study in CBI’s report identifying the basic skills that ensure school-leavers’ employability. The report, “Working on the 3 R’s: employers priorities for functional skills in maths and English”, defines for the first time in detail what employers mean by functional skills. Ben Turner, Managing Director of Cantate, identified a growing need for employees to be able to multi-task across the whole workforce, and the need for all employees to take on customer-facing roles in addition to their traditional duties. As the business improved its customer relationship management, staff’s communication skills in emails and telephone conversations became increasingly important. Literacy and communication skills were also very important to ensure smooth 24-hour operating across shifts. The case study reported that the industry presumes that its employees are numerate, given that they work with quantities, sizes and numbers. The BPIF is delighted by the coverage given to the CBI’s report, and fully supports the drive to identify and raise basic skills standards in schools. The BPIF recently obtained funding from the Government’s Skills for Life project, which enables new employees to improve their basic skills before embarking on an apprenticeship. Ruth Exelby, head of BPIF Training, says that the funding will solve a major obstacle to employees becoming properly trained. “One of the main reasons that trainees fail to complete their apprenticeships is that they find the key skills element very difficult. Employers, in their turn, object to having to teach their staff basic skills that they should have learned in school. The Skills For Life project is a useful stepping stone, but what’s really needed is improvement to the standard of basic skills teaching in schools.” The Government responded to the report’s recommendations, which focus on specific aspects of literacy and numeracy - such as writing a basic text with correct grammar and spelling or performing basic mental arithmetic – by promising to “toughen up the English and maths GCSEs to ensure that young people master the three R’s”. The BPIF will be monitoring the implementation of these commitments as the Government reforms the standards of GCSEs. For more information please email Lizzy Hawkins or call her on 020 7915 8319.