Overview

For Britain to remain a leader in the global marketplace, a highly-skilled, motivated and engaged public sector workforce is vital. As the UK and global economy begin to emerge from one of the worst recessions in recent memory, skills policy could be the key factor in determining the future strength of the UK, and its capacity for growth. With a large public debt necessitating spending cuts, and a desire to maintain public services of the highest standards a key concern, the challenge is great.

Now in its second successful year, ‘Public Sector Workforce Skills’ is the UK’s premier forum facilitating a national discussion on the drive for world-class public services, delivered by a highly skilled workforce. This conference will bring together over 300 key decision makers from across the UK, high calibre speakers, and over 20 service providers; as the government plans to support the creation of more apprenticeships and a variety of measures to help improve workforce skills, it is an unrivalled opportunity for you to discuss how the UK can raise standards and deliver the skills that will make the public sector workforce the world’s leader.

The public sector workforce is currently nearly six million-strong and is positioned to make a major impact on the skills base of the UK. Though nearly £500 million is spent annually on learning and development in the public sector, close to a fifth of employees in public services do not have a level two qualification. As the government sets out plans to attain additional savings, what then, is the best way forward to improve front-line services while reducing costs?

One of the key tasks facing the recently formed Efficiency and Reform Group in the Cabinet Office will be to investigate ways in which, during a period of fiscal restraint, the drive to reform public services can be achieved. The Cabinet Office will deliver an address at this conference on Utilising Leadership and Engagement for a better Workforce: New Professionalism, expressing the importance of unlocking creativity and ambition to reward, motivate, and inspire high performance in the public sector whilst achieving excellent leadership and management.As the size of the public sector reduces, the skills and engagement of the workforce will be crucial in order to ensure that public services are effectively and efficiently delivered.  

Best practice case studies will feature prominently on this year’s programme. The DWP’s Change Programme, for example, aims to achieve this by involving staff in making changes, and making sure that everyone has the support, skills and tools they need to do their job well. To discuss the challenges and of implementing a large scale e-learning course to over 250,000 civil servents, and the benefits of delivering training in this way, we will hear from Ken Ingram, Head of e-learning and Networking at the National School for Government.

While the programme’s core focus will remain the Public Sector Skills agenda, Rt. Hon Dr. Vince Cable MP has been invited to provide an overview of the Government’s broader skills agenda and how it can contribute to wider Government goals, such as a low-carbon economy.

Public Sector Workforce Skills 2010 is your opportunity to discuss and debate how the public sector can create a highly-skilled Britain, served by an entrepreneurial, innovative and dynamic workforce. With its insightful workshop sessions and unrivalled networking opportunities, this is a conference not to be missed; we look forward to welcoming you.