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[June 2002]
RBPTC Makes Further Progress on 'PROSKILLS'
The Department of Education and Skills has recently conducted a 'readiness assessment' on the 33 organisations which made an initial bid for Sector Skills Council (SSC) status in the new national system. The Refractories and Building Products Training Council (RBPTC) is working closely with five other sectors from the Process and Manufacturing industries to form an accredited SSC, which is likely to be named PROSKILLS. The RBPTC has just announced that it has won approval to go forward to the next stage of the accreditation process.It says that this is no mean achievement as it understands that only four organisations were deemed to be 'ready' while more than 10 fell short of expected standards. However, it is pointed out that a successful 'readiness assessment' is not a guarantee that a licence will be recommended following consideration of the full proposal.
With the other partners in PROSKILLS, the RBPTC will be entering into a 'Development Stage' with the DfES during which a full proposal will be prepared for consideration by the Sector Skills Development Agency, the body which will be responsible for issuing SSC licences.
RBPTC Director Gwyn Baker said: "We are delighted to have 'jumped the first hurdle' successfully. We need now to concentrate our efforts to achieve SSC status so that the needs of the sectors covered by RBPTC are properly recognised and addressed in the new system".
PROSKILLS is based on the former NTOs for the Glass, Paper and Board, Extractives, Surface Coatings, Furniture, and Refractories and Building Products industries. The six industries are said to have much in common in terms of process and manufacturing technology, systems, supply chains and skills and productivity needs.
RBPTC Chairman David Goodenough said: "It is important for our industry to have a voice at national level within the new SSC structure and I would seek the support of member companies during this time".
The DfES said that PROSKILLS had "succeeded in providing evidence and a convincing argument that there are strong prospects for a sound SSC to exist".
ENDS