Cleaning ‘key to economic growth’ says report – but skills may not be up to scratch
April 1st 2010 The business services sector, including facilities management and cleaning, has been highlighted by the government as an emerging ‘key sector’ for future economic growth.
The first National Strategic Skills Audit, commissioned by the government and published by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, claims the industry is expected to account for more than one third of total jobs growth over the next few years.
Asset Skills (the Sector Skills Council for facilities management and cleaning) had substantial input into the Audit through its Sector Skills Assessment research and studies. It looked into employment trends and skills gaps in three of the six sectors deemed growth areas in the 2009 White Paper ‘New Industry, New Jobs’.
The new report says skills shortages may be exacerbated by future growth in the business services industry.Asset Skills is addressing these issues through the introduction of a Virtual Skills Academy for Business Services this month (April), which will help deliver vocational qualifications in FM and cleaning.
“We are pleased the government has placed such emphasis on the business services sector as a driver of economic growth,” says Richard Beamish, chief executive of Asset Skills.
The report also assesses economically significant sectors of the economy which are constrained by skill deficiencies, and calls for a renewal of the commitment to ‘economically valuable skills.’ It ranked business services second highest in terms of economic significance, yet shows a need for greater investment in skills and training to keep up with its expected growth.
Management and leadership skills were cited in the Audit as increasingly important, covering a multitude of different activities and behavioural competences, such as leadership, negotiation and procurement, change management, people management, financial management and risk management skills.These requirements must be delivered exceptionally to fully exploit future challenges.
To read the report in full go to:
www.assetskills.org/News/News2010/NationalStr ategicSkillsAudit2010.aspx For more information on the development of a Virtual Skills Academy in Business Services contact Steven Proudfoot at sproudfoot@assetskills.org. www.assetskills.org. More articles from Cleaning Matters: | 
