A POWERFUL vision to transform the area into a learning county and boost its economy is driving forward Cumbria's new Learning & Skills Council.

As the LSC prepares to burst onto the training scene in April, new executive director Mick Farley describes its ambition as a "tremendous challenge," writes Nadia Jefferson-Brown.

But he is optimistic and confident that improved training for Cumbria's workforce will give businesses and individuals a more equal footing in new and global markets.

The LSC is taking charge of youth and adult training across the county as part of a major government shake-up of post-16 learning.

It hopes to encourage more people over the age of 16 into education and training, raise education standards for 16 to 19-year-olds and improve the quality of training in the workplace.

Based at Enterprise Cumbria's head office in Workington, the LSC will be part of a national network of bodies, taking over the work of Training and Enterprise Councils and the Further Education Funding Council.

The 15-strong Learning and Skills Council, to be chaired by Furness Building Society's chief executive Rob Cairns, will have members drawn from business, education, trade unions and the voluntary sector.

Mr Farley explained that the LSC was establishing new partnerships between schools, colleges, training providers and employers in a bid to integrate planning and funding of post-16 training for the first time.

He told the Gazette the proportion of Cumbria's workforce with no nationally-recognised qualifications was higher than average - an issue the LSC was determined to address.

At the moment, about 42.1 per cent of workers have no NVQ or equivalent qualifications, compared with 37 per cent across the North West.

"That is a substantial difference, and is a serious issue," stressed Mr Farley, who was previously the chief executive of Careerdecisions Ltd, the careers service for Knowsley, Liverpool and Sefton.

Improving basic skills was a top priority, particularly in the west and south of the county, he added.

"Our aim is to transform the county into a learning county so that not only businesses grow and prosper but individuals do as well.

We can't achieve what we want to without working in partnerships.

We have to convince employers of the business sense in encouraging their workforce to learn and upgrade their skills.

If organisations and companies have the necessary skills to compete and be successful in these new, global markets, that will be the key to future prosperity in the county."

To contact Cumbria Learning and Skills Council, telephone 01900-700050.

Check the Education of www.thisisthelakedistrict.co.uk for the full details on Education and Training news.