The report released in December 2006 by Lord Sandy Leitch makes clear and radical recommendations to make the UK a world leader in skills by 2020, by creating a simplified demand-led system, increasing levels of employer engagement and embedding a culture of learning. The two most obvious drivers are creating the long-desired demand-led system and giving employers a stronger voice. A major recommendation is the creation of a new national Commission for Employment and Skills. The Commission for Employment and Skills will rationalise existing bodies and strengthen the collective voice of employers on skills. It will integrate employment and skills through a new joined-up service and bring Jobcentre Plus and a new adult careers service closer together under a single objective of creating sustainable employment and progression opportunities within the workforce. There will be a network of local employer-led Employment and Skills Boards, reporting to the new Commission. In order to achieve the recommendations, the Government will need to reform the 25 sector skills councils to provide employers with a voice in their industries' labour needs. Many of these changes will provide employers with the opportunity they have awaited for a long time. One NorthEast is moving quickly to allow the North-East to capitalise on the opportunity these changes will create. It has commissioned an extensive piece of work to establish how the region could benefit most from the birth of the Employment and Skills Boards, and how these should be implemented with maximum effect. The Regional Employability Framework (REF) and strong partnership working will provide the building blocks for the North-East to build upon in promoting employability. One NorthEast, Jobcentre Plus, the Learning and Skills Council, Government Office for the North East, NEEC and sub-regional representatives are working together within the Regional Skills Partnership to implement the REF. This will transform the way we work together to provide a more co-ordinated and appealing service to employers. Work is under way within the REF to develop simpler Employer Access Points which will allow employers easy access to a full range of services to meet all of their employment needs. An integrated offer for recruitment, employment and staff development needs will streamline and simplify access for employers and cut the number of different approaches made to employers. For a large part of the region, this new approach is being made real through the Tyne & Wear City Region Employment Consortium which has been recognised by the Department of Work and Pensions to be the lead partnership for employment issues within this part of the region. The department is providing funding, including Deprived Area Funds, to enable this process to commence. Working with employers via the NEEC, the Consortium will pilot new ways to identify and meet employers' recruitment needs, drive up performance and make greater impact in addressing employment issues. North Tyneside Council acts as lead body for the Tyne & Wear City Region Employment Consortium. Cabinet member Councillor Jim Allan welcomes the opportunity this gives to transform the delivery of employability services. He said: "This is an excellent opportunity to link national and regional policy to the actual delivery of appropriate services on the ground to local people. "We recognise that there is still work to do to address unemployment in the region. Whilst this is challenging, the development of the Regional Employability Framework will provide clarity and a strategic way forward. This fits in perfectly with the model provided regionally by the Framework, and with the key messages coming from Lord Leitch." The Leitch report sets out a considerable challenge and makes equally challenging recommendations for change to meet this. In the North-East, employers and partners welcome this challenge and are already well on the way to meeting them. Further changes, such as the creation of Employment and Skills Boards, will further strengthen our ability to offer a truly demand-led service to employers looking to recruit and develop staff. By working together and combining our experience and aspirations, we can look forward to ensuring that the North-East continues to lead the way in this area. | 
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