To maintain EAL’s position as the specialist skills partner and awarding organisation for industry it is vital we engage with and listen to industry leaders. In 2015 EAL set up the Industry Engagement Forum to bring together industry leaders and corporate partners to help us fully understand the needs of industry, both now and for the future. By encouraging key industry employers, training providers and colleges to play an active role in the forum we hope to inspire a collaborative approach to tackling the skills agenda.
The Industry Engagement Forum’s remit covers the whole talent pipeline, considering skills and qualifications needs from school age through to apprenticeships and higher education. It also encourages employers to share best practice and consider how they can work together to meet the skills needs of the sectors they represent.
Our strong corporate partnerships, and reputation as the awarding organisation for industry, are reflected in the high profile companies and institutions involved in the forum, including Airbus, GTA England, MBDA, Rolls Royce, JCB, Titan Rail, Society of Operations Engineers, F1 In Schools and AMTC amongst others.
To effect real change we also have a role to play in sharing what we’ve learnt with key figures in government, to influence current and future policy on learning and skills. EAL is lead sponsor of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Apprenticeships; a group dedicated to the advancement of apprenticeships, chaired by Jack Lopresti MP. The APPG allows politicians and businesses to come together to discuss apprenticeship reforms and agree how collectively we can contribute to the success of the UK economy.
