Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett yesterday announced the appointment of 14 members to the National Council of the Learning and Skills Council who will oversee the work of the new body modernising post-16 learning.
Mr Blunkett said, "I am very pleased that those appointed have agreed to take on this role. They bring with them a wealth of talent from a range of backgrounds and an excellent understanding of the wide agenda facing the LSC."
"As we promised in the Learning and Skills Council Prospectus, leading figures from the business community will play a key role in the Council. They will ensure that post-16 learning is consumer driven and that the LSC will find solutions to the education and learning problems business faces today and in the future."
"The interests of learners and the wider community will also be fully represented by outstanding members from the trades unions, the voluntary sector, further and higher education sectors, learning providers and local authorities."
"The LSC,s National Council will play a crucial role in setting the vision and agenda for learning and skills and in bringing together the current range of Post-16 learning opportunities for individual learning and workforce development into a single coherent system, and I very much look forward to working with them as the LSC develops."
"I am also pleased to announce that John Monks, General Secretary of the TUC, will chair the LSC,s Adult Learning Committee and that Chris Banks, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Great Britain, will chair the Young People,s Learning Committee. The Council will rely on its Committees for expert advice in youth and adult issues, and both John and Chris will play a crucial role in ensuring that the work of the Committees remains a fully integrated part of the Council,s agenda,."
Bryan Sanderson, Chair of the Learning and Skills Council said, "With the appointment of the National Council members, we now have a team with the expertise and drive to forge a dynamic, inclusive organisation. The Council represents an alliance of the major partners involved in the challenge of transforming learning and skills in this country."
"We now have a job to do – to break down barriers to learning, to encourage more people to take the opportunity to transform their lives through education and training, and give businesses a say in getting the skilled people they need."
Bryan Sanderson, formerly Group Managing Director of BP Amoco plc, has already been appointed as the Chair of the LSC and took up position on 1 October.
John Harwood, the LSC,s Chief Executive, will also be a National Council member.
Appointment Details
The appointments will be for terms of between two and four years, with the possibility of extension thereafter. The appointments are part-time, working between 12 and 15 days each year, mainly in half days or parts of days.
Council members will receive a flat fee of £4,000 per year. The Committee Chairs will receive a flat fee of £4,000 per year, in addition to the fee for National Council members. Travel, subsistence and child care expenses are also payable.
Chris Banks
Managing Director of Coca-Cola, Great Britain
Chris Humphries CBE
Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce
Imtiaz Farookhi
Chief Executive of the National House-Building Council (NHBC)
Dr Deanne Julius
Member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England
Sir Michael Lickiss
Chairman of the South West of England Regional Development Agency
Jane Drabble
Formerly Director of Education at the BBC
John Monks
General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress
Professor Robert Fryer CBE
Assistant Vice-Chancellor, Lifelong Learning, University of Southampton and Director of University of Southampton New College
Leisha Fullick
Chief Executive of Islington Council
John Merry
Local Councillor and Deputy Leader of Salford City Council
Sir George Sweeney
Principal of the Knowsley Community College, Merseyside
Helen Edwards
Chief Executive of Nacro, the crime reduction charity
Alexandra Burslem OBE
Vice-Chancellor of the Manchester
Lynne Morris
Principal of the Joseph Chamberlain 6th Form College, Birmingham
