SKILLS FOR LIFE DELIVERY

What Are Skills for Life?

"The ability to read, write and speak in English and use mathematics at a level necessary to function at work and in society in general."
(source: The Basic Skills Agency)

This definition has recently been broadened to include IT skills as a third basic skill alongside numeracy and literacy.

What Are The Costs of Poor Skills for Life?

"Poor basic skills carry economic costs as well as personal problems. A recent report suggested that poor basic skills cost businesses and government £10 billion a year."
(source: Literacy, Education and Training and their impact on the Economy. Ernst & Young.)

Having a problem with reading, writing, number or basic IT may affect a worker in many ways and restricts the effectiveness of their work as well as the possibility that they will ever progress within the company. There are several indicators of poor skills for life:

• Opportunities not being taken up
• Reluctance to contribute or even attend team meetings
• Unwillingness to take on responsibility or promotion
• Hostility to changes or introduction of new working procedures
• Inability to present their position
• Lack of understanding of written instructions

The Outsourced Training Company Skills for Life Team have operated Learning Resources Centres in two of the Dagenham Manufacturing Plants of Ford Motor Company Limited since 1994, providing Basic Skills and Information Technology training for the employees working on the Dagenham Estate. During this time we have seen the long-term benefits of Basic Skills training in increased employee confidence, lower absenteeism and higher productivity.

In February 2005 we began operating a third Learning Resources Centre at the Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) in Dagenham providing learning support to students of Thames Gateway College, local businesses and members of the general public in numeracy, literacy and IT skills development.

For further information on the numeracy, literacy and IT courses and qualifications we are able to deliver please use the navigation links at the top of this section or, alternatively, jump directly to our numeracy, literacy and IT training courses.