Learning Light
Second Floor, Gladstone Building,
1 St James Row, Sheffield, S1 2EU
Tel +44 (0)114 223 2442; Web www.learninglight.com
BL/LL/24/07 12th October 2007
Learning Light explores the role of higher level skills development
at Sheffield Business Week
Learning Light (LL), a non-profit centre of excellence in the use of
learning technologies in the workplace, sponsored the Sheffield and
Derbyshire & Nottinghamshire Chambers of Commerce Members' networking
evening, which took place on 9th October at Chatsworth House. This
networking event was followed by an exclusive LL dinner.
The event was part of Sheffield Business Week - five days of seminars
and events for business owners, managers or employees, organised by the
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce in association with Yorkshire's largest
commercial radio station, Galaxy Yorkshire.
The Chamber Members' Evening and LL dinner event provided an ideal
opportunity to focus on the regional higher level skills agenda and the
role of local businesses in helping to support its development.
Discussion at the LL dinner focused on the outputs of Lord Leitch's
review into skills levels in the UK and the report's potential impact
on the region. The dinner event brought together key figures from the
region including Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of Sheffield City
Council; Paul Jagger, chairman of the South Yorkshire LSC, as well as
senior representatives from both Sheffield universities, Yorkshire
Forward, Creative Sheffield and local employers from the region.
"The findings of the Leitch Report are evident," commented Mark
Pittaway, LL's CEO. "The report reveals that the UK will continue to
fall behind other countries, both economically and socially, unless it
becomes a world-class 'skills leader' in an increasingly competitive
global marketplace."
Evidence from the Report and other sources suggests that 'UK PLC'
suffers from a weak skills base characterised by:
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Poor language and technical skills that lag behind those in the rest of
Europe, along with India, Korea and China
-
Relatively low exploitation of technologies for learning and
development
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Poor vocational skills and entrenched resistance to re-skilling and up-skilling
-
Some 50% of adults struggling with numeracy
"Drastic action is needed where traditional approaches to up-skilling
and training either don't work, won't work quickly enough and lack the
innovation and effective use of technologies that's needed," said
Pittaway.
LL believes that focusing on regional skills growth could have a
positive impact on the regeneration and growth of the region. Pittaway
added: "We feel that we are in a unique position to support the region
to design and implement Lord Leitch's recommendations over the next ten
to 12 years, through working with the region's learning and learning
technology providers to use new innovative approaches toward enhanced
skill development."
At a local level, LL supports regional learning technology companies to
help them respond to market needs in the fast growing learning
technologies space; regional training companies to adopt new blended
learning approaches; and regional businesses to optimise learning
technologies to manage learning and performance.
LL also works with global organisations to improve business performance
by designing and implementing integrated skills development programmes
that are aligned to strategic business goals.
End
About Learning Light Ltd
Learning Light is a non-profit organisation that builds relationships
between learning technology researchers, suppliers, buyers and learners
providing learner-centric information to encourage the growth of
learning technologies. By sharing comprehensive research, highlighting
successes and failures, Learning Light helps to promote the learning
technologies community.
Learning Light provides bespoke and individual services to help both
buyers and suppliers of learning technologies (e-Learning). Its current
services include:
Research Services
Providing access to expert insights, advice and guidance built on
indepth research. Helping organisations to effectively implement
learning technologies (e-Learning) and integrate them within their
workflow processes.
Membership Services
Partnering with leading thinkers in the industry and providing a
network for all interested in the field to share information,
knowledge, insight, experience and expertise, through utilising online
community tools, networking events, conferences and guru seminars.
Professional Services
Our highly experienced team offers organisations access to range of
competitively priced consultancy services supporting buyers with the
effective implementation of their learning technology (e-Learning)
requirements. And, for suppliers, helping to provide a range of
services to assist market awareness and generate growth.
In addition, Learning Light provides a comprehensive Professional
Development programme to help Learning & Development professionals
understand the significance of learning technologies in the workplace
today and how to effectively implement them within the workflow
processes of their organisation.
Sheffield-based Learning Light is supported by Yorkshire Forward, the
regional development agency for Yorkshire, and the Humber and Objective
1 South Yorkshire.
Further information from:
Mark
Pittaway/ Kay Simpson, Learning Light, 0114 201 5703
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 01727 860405
www.learninglight.com