The focus on improving the skills of the workforce and making the nation more competitive and profitable recently turned to young people in their teens.

MPs have been debating plans for youngsters to stay in training or education until the age of 18 as part of the Education and Skills Bill.

This is part of the Government's reaction to the Leitch Review which has the target of achieving world class skills by 2020.

The Leitch Review of Skills, published in December 2006, warned that the UK must raise its game' on skills at all levels if it is to sustain and improve its position in the global economy.

The Bill will apply to England in the first instance, and means by 2013 all pupils will remain in education or training until the MPs Support Training for Young People completion of the school year in which they reach 17. Two years later the age will rise to 18.

Roberta Blackman-Woods, Labour MP for the City of Durham, said: "I want to see a range of ways for young people to acquire new skills, such as workbased learning and apprenticeships. This Bill will mean people can combine training or volunteering with part-time education while also working.

"lt is about greater education and training opportunities for older and younger people alike. It is about getting Britain ready for the challenges ahead and making sure that our workforce has the skills we will need in the future."

For many employers, both workbased learning and Apprenticeships have always been included within their plans to develop their staff and ultimately their business.

In 2008, committed employers can take this responsibility further by making a pledge to develop every member of staff to a minimum level and beyond.

The Skills Pledge, which was another key recommendation made in the Leitch Review, is a government initiative where companies commit to supporting all their employees to work towards a relevant, valuable qualification to at least Level 2 (the equivalent of five GCSEs at A - C grade), including basic skills such as numeracy and literacy.

It is being driven in the region by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East, supported by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), and aims to encourage employers to train their workforce.

Chris Roberts, Regional Director, LSC North East, stressed that educational and training opportunities must have a wide appeal and be engaging to as many young people as possible.

He said: "An academic-based course does not suit everyone, therefore a range of choices need to be offered including practical, hands-on learning, which may be more appropriate for some young people.

"Both further educational and more vocational routes have their part to play in making sure the workers of tomorrow are trained to meet the future needs of employers.

"Businesses and organisations can demonstrate a clear commitment to developing their staff by signing the Skills Pledge and making training one of their top priorities for a successful future."

For more information on the Skills Pledge, please visit traintogain.gov.uk/skillspledge or call 0800 015 5545.

The following North East businesses and organisations have signed up to the Skills Pledge, as of January 6, 2008.

Access Training Limited

Alice House

Altechic

Applied Heating Services Ltd

Assessment North East

Astrum

Beamish Museum

Bioscience Centre

B-Skill Ltd

Business Link North East

C&S Driveways

C2M (UK) Ltd

Ccs Training

CELS

Centrex Computing Services Limited

Chesshire-Hope Chester le Street

District Council

City Of Sunderland College

Contemporary Education

Darlington College

Davidfry Ceramics

Debmat Surfacing Limited

Derwentside District Council

Drenton And Sons Alnwick

E A Clayton Ltd

E T E C

Eco-Survey-North East

Engage Tv

First Choice Facilities

Flatbread Coy

Grove Reed Construction Ltd

Hartlepool Borough Council

Hellens Group Limited

Hextol Foundation

Hutchinson Technical Services Ltd

Hytorc Unex Ltd

ITEC North East Limited

Jilanda Securesmart

John W & S Dorin Ltd

Learning Curve

Mclaran Financial

Metromail Ltd

Middleton St George Dental Practice

Minacs UK Ltd

MPH Accessible Media

Ncp Lantit

Newcastle College

Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust

Northern Care Training

Northumbria University

Northumbrian Water Limited

OneNorthEast

Percy Anderson Limited

Power Lift Material Handling Ltd

Premier Waste Management

Prestige Supplies Limited

Prior Pursglove College

QGS Synergy

Reach Out Care

Rok

Scope

Slater Drive Systems Ltd

South Tyneside College

Springboard

Student Loans Company

Sunderland City Council

T & C Industrial Cleaning

Tees Valley Regeneration

Tees, Esk & Wear Valley NHS Trust

The B Group

Total Sport

Training In Childcare

Transcendit Limited

Tristar Homes Ltd

Tyneside Early Education

West View Project