The government is consulting on how to increase the percentage of the population with higher level skills. Currently only 31% have level 4 qualifications or above, below the target of 40%. While more students are graduating, employer demand for higher skills continues to grow due to needs for innovation. Higher skills also need to be developed in the workplace throughout employees' careers. Foundation degrees, developed jointly by employers, universities and colleges, are an effective way to provide higher skills training tailored to employer needs while also benefiting employees. For example, a foundation degree in retail management created with Tesco is being expanded to other retailers after successful implementation. Similar programs have been developed across other sectors such as IT and travel through the Foundation Degree Forward organization.

1. Higher Level Skills in the Workplace
The Government is in a period of
consultation around the development
of higher level skills in the workplace.
The Leitch Report (Prosperity for all in
the global economy – World class skills,
2006) identified a target of 40% of the
population to be qualified to level 4 or
above – currently this stands at 31%.
While the supply of graduates is rising,
the employer demand also continues
to grow. This demand, in part, is driven
by the need to increase the capacity
for innovation and enterprise in the
workplace. This will not be satisfied
simply by increasing the number of
school leavers going into full-time
higher education.
To be competitive, higher level skills
developmentneedstohappenalsointhe
workplace, throughout an employee’s
working life. Employers must play an
active part in leading the demand and
development of training for higher level
skills development.
Foundation degrees (Fd) are an excellent
example of employer-led higher level
skills development in practice. Fds are
designed to provide the employer with
improved employee performance and
contribution to the business, as well as
improved employee retention.
For example, a Foundation degree in
Retail Management has recently been
created and piloted. Developed in
partnership with Tesco, the University
of the Arts London and Manchester
Metropolitan University, 40 students
have completed their first year. The
programme has received widespread
acclaim and is now being made
available to other major employers in
the retail sector.
Similar developments to the retail
Fd are taking place across a range of
other sectors such as information
communication technology and travel
and tourism. Such initiatives have been
led by fdf (Foundation Degree Forward)
which is funded by the Higher Education
Funding Council for England.
ForfurtherinformationaboutFoundation
degrees and how fdf can support
employers in the development of higher
level skills in the workplace please go to
www.fdf.ac.uk or call 01543 301150.
Professor Derek Longhurst
Chief Executive
fdf
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