• Welcome
• About the UK Commission
  • Role and responsibilities
  • The Chairman and Commissioners
  • Commissioners Business Plan for 2011/12
  • Working with Sector Skills Councils
  • UK Commission expenditure budget
• The role
  • Job description
  • Person specification
  • Terms and conditions
  • Information Pack
• How to apply
• Timetable and recruitment process

Role and responsibilities

The UK Commission is powerful and influential social partnership made up of large and small employers, trade unions leaders and representatives of the public and voluntary sector. As a strategic body, its remit is to support the skills, jobs and growth policies of the four home nations, helping achieve government’s ambition to secure a sustainable recovery, increased competitiveness and a more balanced and fairer economy.

In the recently published Skills Strategy for England, BIS Ministers set out their commitment for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to become a true vehicle for economic growth and social partnership, working with strong sector bodies, employers, trade unions and other partners to give inspirational leadership to business on skills: because better skills connect people to new jobs, drive business success and increase prosperity; and sectors and places need solutions to create vibrant and sustainable economies.

The formal remit is to raise employer ambition; develop employer commitment and initiatives for workforce skills and job creation; meet sector skills needs through a strong network of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) and deliver the step change in skills that we need for the jobs of the future.

Work will focus on three strategic objectives:

• To provide outstanding labour market intelligence to create more transparent learning, labour and goods markets; informing, increasing and empowering learner choices; increasing the flexibility of providers to respond to changing needs; and encouraging employers to invest in economically valuable skills. For example, ensuring that the frameworks for occupational standards and apprenticeships are economically valuable and fit-for-purpose. The UK Commission has an international reputation for its technical expertise in this field and we will continue to work with partners to ensure such intelligence is effectively translated, communicated and utilised by market agents.

• To work with businesses to develop the best market solutions which leverage greater investment in skills to both increase and re-balance investment in skills between businesses, individuals and Government. For example, working with businesses to consider best use of Investors in People, Apprenticeships and High Performance Work Places. The UK Commission will work in partnership with a strong sectoral network that will play a central role identifying and delivering the “unique” best market solutions for their sector to secure increased jobs, productivity and competitiveness.

• Through Commissioner Leadership, maximising the impact of employment and skills policies and employer behaviour to support jobs and growth. Commissioners will provide insight into what works, what doesn’t and what needs to be done to secure the internationally competitive skill base required for jobs and growth. Commissioners will provide world class leadership, tackle market failures and helping to secure greater value for money. 

The UK Commission is also committed to promoting employer investment in people. In April 2010 the Commission became the champion and guardian of Investors in People, and continues to develop Investors in People's reach and impact amongst employers of all types and sizes, to strengthen its position at the heart of the UK's business and skills agenda. The Commission achieved the Investors in People standard in 2010. During 2011 we will be working towards achieving a higher level of accreditation - Bronze, Silver or Gold status.

As a Non Departmental Public Body, the UK Commission is accountable to the joint Secretaries of State for BIS and DWP, and to Ministers in HMT, DfE and the Devolved Administrations. The UK Commission receives annual funding from BIS in the region of £70 million.  The UK Commission employs around 100 staff at its offices in London Victoria and Wath-on-Dearne.