Sector Skills Agreement

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What is a Sector Skills Agreement?

A Sector Skills Agreement (SSA) is a national agreement between employers, their Sector Skills Council (SSC), key Government departments and delivery partners such as the Learning and Skills Council, Regional Development Agencies, Higher Educational Institutions, Trades Union Congress, Confederation of British Industry and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

Each SSC has reached an agreement with the employers and stakeholders in their sector to ensure that 'the skills the sector needs are the skills the sector gets'.

What are the outcomes of Asset Skills' SSA?

Sector Skills Agreements have been completed by all SSCs. Some of the outcomes of this work included developments such as an agreed apprenticeship framework, establishing centres of excellence for training courses, providing specific types of business development for employers, providing information, advice and guidance to professionals in the industry and providing information on progression and transferability routes within the sector.

What makes up a Sector Skills Agreement?

The SSA consists of the following five phases. For further information and up to date research reports please click on each of the following links.

Phase 1 - Skills Need Assessment - Now updated - Click here for the Sector Skills Assessment 2010

Phase 2 - Understanding Supply

Phase 3 - Gap analysis and market testing

Phase 4 - Action with employers

Phase 5 - Action planning