More firms sign to Leitch skills pledge

In-house training is set to increase in 2008 after eight more firms agreed to sign up to a Leitch skills pledge.

The pledge sees companies committing to support employees to attain a minimum level two qualification.

Many fleet managers admit to having no formal qualifications and the pledge, which is part of the Leitch Review of Skills published in 2006, should see an increase in training offered.

Kwik-Fit, Shell, BP, Scottish & Southern Energy, Remploy, Delphi, TUI Travel and Fujitsu Services are the latest groups to sign the pledge and to date 852 organisations have now signed up.

MP John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, has urged employers to offer training for their staff and has committed to extending formal accreditation to employers’ in-house training programmes.

He said: “Having visited companies across the country, I know that high-quality training makes a real difference to the commitment and creativity of staff, to increased productivity and ultimately to the bottom line.”