Sector Skills Councils

The programme outlined in the Workforce Development Strategy is very ambitious and can only be achieved with the support and involvement of our stakeholders.

MLA welcomes the creation of the two employer led Sector Skills Councils to address the skills needs of the museums, libraries and archives workforce. MLA provided grants of £100,000 to both SSCs towards their development and are actively working to help the SSC establish themselves in our sector.

Lifelong Learning UK is responsible for the professional development of all those working in libraries, archives and information services, work-based learning, higher education, further education and community learning and development. You can view Lifelong Learning UK's Current Work Plan at http://www.lluk.org

MLA and LLUK have agreed a Strategic Partnership Agreement to take forward joint priorities on workforce development.

Creative & Cultural Skills is the Sector Skills Council for Cultural Heritage including museums. Other sectors represented by Creative & Cultural Skills are Advertising, Design, Music, Performing, Literary and Visual Arts.

Formed in May 2004, Creative & Cultural Skills was granted its licence to operate by the Sector Skills Development Agency on 1st June 2005.

You can view Creative and Cultural Skills: Skills for Creativity: Strategic Plan 2005-2010 at http://www.cciskills.org.uk

MLA and other Cultural Heritage organisations are currently agreeing a Concordat with Creative & Cultural Skills. A Cultural Heritage Skills Panel, which includes MLA, has been established to inform and support the work of CC Skills.

Each SSC agrees sector priorities and targets with its employers and partners to address four key goals:

• Reducing skills gaps and shortages
• Improving productivity, business and public service performance
• Increasing opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector's workforce, including action on equal opportunities
• Improving learning supply, including apprenticeships, higher education and national occupational standards