About World Class Skills (WCS)
World Class Skills (WCS) is a Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS) initiative aimed at helping further education (FE) providers be more responsive to employers’ needs and improve the competitiveness of UK businesses through the ongoing provision of skilled and capable workers.
WCS provides a range of products and services for individual providers as they seek to improve the responsiveness and quality of their offer to employers.
Fully subsidised for LSC-funded providers, WCS provides in-depth consultancy, interactive workshops, innovative resources and support packages.
Get in touch
Contact the WCS team on 0800 32 86 075 or via email through wcsenquiries@kpmg.co.uk.
Alternatively, for all the latest offers and information on WCS, keep visiting the website.
Frequently asked questions:
What is WCS?
WCS is a LSIS- funded programme focused on supporting you in becoming more responsive to the needs of employers whatever your starting point. This is facilitated through the delivery of a number of workshops, seminars, consultancies and thematic projects. The aim is to provide the knowledge and support needed to enable attendees to succeed in the demand-led environment.
Why should we get involved?
"If we're going to skill people for the jobs of the future, then we must work closely with employers to identify those needs and ensure that training providers are ready to deliver. We've listened to employers and taken action to remove barriers to training. Now we must take it one step further."
John Denham, Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary 1
As the providers of vocational skills training, you have a responsibility to help address this skills gap in England. This represents a massive opportunity for you to capitalise on the need for skilled workers.
What is the aim of WCS?
WCS was developed in response to Lord Leitch’s report of December 2006 and the government’s response to it which highlighted the critical need for the UK to raise skill levels. The programme aims to support you in improving the productivity and competitiveness of England’s businesses through the ongoing provision of skilled and capable workers. The ultimate goal is to ensure the country remains globally competitive.
Who is running WCS?
The programme is delivered by KPMG and a consortium of national partners on behalf of the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS). Together, they bring significant expertise to the sector and can draw upon a huge range of industry-leading practice and innovation to share with colleges and training providers across FE.
Who is WCS for?
WCS is fully subsidised and open to all LSC-funded providers. There are activities targeted at all levels of staff. This includes chief executives, directors and principals of further education learning and skills providers who are involved in planning, developing and delivering employer responsive provision.
What do the workshops and seminars cover?
WCS has been developed to help you to increase your organisation’s reputation for educational excellence through the delivery of quality employer responsive provision and as a result improve the skills levels of the UK’s workforce. In developing WCS, KPMG has brought the latest expertise and market tools to address a range of issues including
- Changes in demand-led funding
- The rolling out of the Training Quality Standard accreditation
- The growth of Train to Gain
- National Skills Academies and the development of specialist networks
- The drive for quality Apprenticeship delivery
None of the workshops and seminars are mandatory. You are encouraged to pick and choose, tailor -making a bespoke programme that will be most beneficial to you and your organisation.
What are the benefits of attending the workshops and seminars?
- You can become more responsive to employers’ needs and capitalise on their demands. Enhanced employer engagement represents an opportunity for sustainable growth.
- You will better understand the impact of funding changes, the benefits of collaboration and the steps you need to take to achieve the Training Quality Standard. This will make a more employer responsive organisation as we identify and understand employer needs.
- You will know how to use labour market intelligence more effectively in developing responsive provision. The corollary to this is the ability to measure your own performance, develop a workable action plan and adopt practical solutions to achieve your targets.
- You will be able to share experience with your peers. While the workshops and seminars address your concerns and challenges, you also have a chance to build a support network.
How do I book a place on the workshops and seminars?
Workshops and seminars are now running nationally; you can book online now or speak to a member of our team, please call 0800 32 86 075 or via email through wcsenquiries@kpmg.co.uk.
Where can I register for World Class Skills?
You can create a profile in our events booking area, by clicking on the red button in the top right of the screen. Once you have a profile you will be able to access all of the World Class Skills IT systems. Please note that any new accounts made, or changes made to existing accounts, take 24 hours to update in our CPD and eLMI tools.
How do I get involved in the delivery of the programme?
This is an excellent opportunity for you and your staff to work with LSIS and KPMG on the overall skills agenda. We are looking for people to share their knowledge and experience with their peers. In particular we would like people who have good experience in employer responsiveness, have provided advice or consultancy to other providers, have a good knowledge of change management and those with strong commercial experience.
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[1] Education Guardian, Wednesday June25, 2008