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
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