EMPLOYER PLEDGEEMPLOYER PLEDGEBASIC SKILLS SUPPORT BASIC SKILLS SUPPORT

IN THE WORKPLACEIN THE WORKPLACE

What is this?What is this?

WAG PriorityWAG Priority Supported by ESFSupported by ESF Develop existing staff skillsDevelop existing staff skills Provide better service provisionProvide better service provision Help Welsh Businesses compete in the Help Welsh Businesses compete in the

marketplacemarketplace

““The ability to read, write The ability to read, write and speak in and speak in

English/Welsh and to use English/Welsh and to use mathematics at a level mathematics at a level

necessary to function and necessary to function and progress at work and in progress at work and in

society in general”society in general”

What do we mean by What do we mean by Basic Skills?Basic Skills?

How do we read?How do we read?

How much of what you read can you remember?

Did you understand the text as you were reading?

If all reading was as difficult as that, would you want to do it?

Basic skills are needed Basic skills are needed in everyday lifein everyday life

To do a jobTo do a job To help a child with homeworkTo help a child with homework To write a letter To write a letter To use household and DIY equipmentTo use household and DIY equipment To do the shopping To do the shopping To drive a carTo drive a car To read public transport timetables To read public transport timetables To fill in a formTo fill in a form To prepare foodTo prepare food To be an active member of the communityTo be an active member of the community

About 50% of adults who need About 50% of adults who need additional basic skills are in the additional basic skills are in the

workplace.workplace. TRUETRUE

47% numeracy47% numeracy 19% literacy19% literacy

Communication and maths skills Communication and maths skills are needed for about 50% of jobs.are needed for about 50% of jobs.

FALSEFALSE

Every Job Needs Basic Every Job Needs Basic SkillsSkills

Health & SafetyHealth & Safety Work InstructionsWork Instructions

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills Work Work DocumentationDocumentation

Number and Number and PunctualityPunctuality

Quality StandardsQuality Standards

When asked, 75% of adults in When asked, 75% of adults in need will say that they have a need will say that they have a

difficulty with basic skills.difficulty with basic skills.

FALSEFALSE

Basic Skills-clues to needBasic Skills-clues to need

““forgot my glasses”forgot my glasses” difficulty following instructions and/or difficulty following instructions and/or

sequencing informationsequencing information easily distracted, uses distraction techniqueseasily distracted, uses distraction techniques reluctance to take part in training or take up reluctance to take part in training or take up

qualifications on offerqualifications on offer poor standard of written work, e.g. messy, poor standard of written work, e.g. messy,

capital letters in wrong places, misuse of capital letters in wrong places, misuse of wordswords

difficulty with reading, problem with spellingdifficulty with reading, problem with spelling becomes aggressive or evasivebecomes aggressive or evasive

14% writing at level 214% writing at level 2 9% speaking and listening at level 29% speaking and listening at level 2 7% numeracy at level 27% numeracy at level 2 46% reading at level 246% reading at level 2

NVQ Level 1 (average)NVQ Level 1 (average)

ESOLESOL

English for Speakers of other English for Speakers of other LanguagesLanguages

Increase in needIncrease in need Diverse first languageDiverse first language Implications for employersImplications for employers

COSTS?COSTS?

Welsh Assembly Government Welsh Assembly Government

has made a commitment that basic has made a commitment that basic

skills training is free to the learner.skills training is free to the learner.

EMPLOYER PLEDGEEMPLOYER PLEDGE Part of the WAG National StrategyPart of the WAG National Strategy Intended for Intended for allall employers employers National Support Project to help National Support Project to help

employers through the processemployers through the process 314 employers signed314 employers signed Approximately 230,000 employeesApproximately 230,000 employees

Why do we need the Why do we need the Employer Pledge?Employer Pledge?

Poor basic skills costs the Welsh economy Poor basic skills costs the Welsh economy almost £600 million per yearalmost £600 million per year

Employers – through FSW, CBI Wales and Employers – through FSW, CBI Wales and Wales TUC and SSCs – say we need to Wales TUC and SSCs – say we need to address skills deficitsaddress skills deficits

Basic skills underpins other vocational Basic skills underpins other vocational training training

Level 3 skills are the minimum required for Level 3 skills are the minimum required for the workforce to match the ambition set out the workforce to match the ambition set out in ‘A Winning Wales’ in ‘A Winning Wales’

How can you improveHow can you improvestaff basic skills?staff basic skills?

Be positiveBe positive Don’t ignore the needDon’t ignore the need Support Training needsSupport Training needs AssessmentAssessment ReadabilityReadability Training methodsTraining methods

EMPLOYER PLEDGEEMPLOYER PLEDGEBASIC SKILLS SUPPORT BASIC SKILLS SUPPORT

IN THE WORKPLACEIN THE WORKPLACE Contact: Barbara DaviesContact: Barbara Davies

Tel: 01495 355871Tel: 01495 355871 barbara.davies@blaenau-gwent.gov.ukbarbara.davies@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk