Appointment of first Chief Executive of the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils today announced the appointment of John McNamara as its first Chief Executive.

Highly regarded and with extensive experience in the skills and development arena, McNamara is currently Chief Executive of BII, the professional body for the licensed retail sector, and is also Chairman of FAB, the Federation of Awarding Bodies. He was previously a Director of the Hospitality Training Foundation, responsible for the Hospitality Awarding Body, and had an 18 year career with NatWest Corporate Banking.

"The United Kingdom needs the right people with the right skills if we want to improve workplace productivity and build economic prosperity," Mr McNamara said.

"I am delighted to accept this exciting role and I'm looking forward to help in strengthening the role of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) as leaders of skill development in their industries."

The SSCs are entering a challenging period of change, where the SSC role in the qualifications framework, the capacity and capability of training supply, and the representation of employer interests in skills are all combining to play a key role in boosting the competitiveness and productivity in the UK.

Chair of the Alliance, John Rogers, said:

"I am delighted we have been able to secure the services of someone of John's stature to lead this exciting new organisation at a time of tremendous change and opportunity. He has a wide experience of the skills sector and of leading and promoting an association of independent members. With his leadership, and the collective effort of the constituent SSCs, there is now a unique opportunity to make the significant breakthrough needed to make the skills system genuinely responsive to the needs of employers and individuals."

INFORMATION ENDS

Editor's Notes

The Alliance acts as the voice of the twenty five licensed Sector Skills Councils. It is based in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Its role is to influence policy in relation to the developments in skills since the Leitch report of 2007, and to represent the Sector Skills Councils where their collective interests are involved.

The Alliance of Sector Skills Councils was set up in April 2008 and is funded by the subscriptions of its members. It is a company limited by guarantee and a Scottish charity with offices in London, Bridgend, Edinburgh and Belfast.

The Alliance is in the process of setting up its resource base including its website.

For more information contact

For Alliance enquiries – Jan Podsiadly

0845 0725602

For BII enquiries - Michelle Luscombe
01276 417863 / 07795 394660