NATIONAL

1. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills consultation (BIS)

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) supports sustained growth and higher skills across the economy. Growth is the Government's top priority and all Government departments are focused on this agenda while respecting their different specialism. Growth must be sustainable, shared and balanced – across the country and between sectors of the economy. There is a clear and active role for Government to create the conditions for the private sector to grow and remove unnecessary barriers that can stifle growth.

Further details: http://www.bis.gov.uk

2. UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)

UKCES is a Non-Departmental Public Body social partnership, led by Commissioners from large and small employers, trade unions and the voluntary sector. Their mission is to raise skill levels to help drive enterprise, create more and better jobs and economic growth across al regions of the UK.

The UK Commission conducts two major employer surveys on a biennial basis, the UK Employer Skills Survey and the UK Employer Perspectives Survey. These surveys run in alternate years.

The UK Commission is charged with providing Grant Funding to the UK wide Skills for Business Network of employer-led organisation including Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) and Sector Bodies.

This currently includes Grant Funding for:

· The development of National Occupational Standards (NOS) and Sector Qualification work

· Employer Investment Funding

· Growth and Innovation Funding

Further information: http://www.ukces.org.uk/

3. Equality and Human Rights Commission's guides

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have a statutory remit to promote and monitor human rights; and to protect, enforce and promote equality across the nine "protected" grounds: age, disability, gender, race, religion and belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. One of their key roles is to provide advice and guidance on rights, responsibilities and good practice, based on equality law and human rights.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have produced a series of guides for employers, workers, service providers and service users to help explain the Act and provide practical examples of how the law has changed.

Find out more on the Equality and Human Rights Act 2010 Guide

Further details: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

The EHRC have just launched their first of three phases of consultation to develop their next strategic plan for 2012-2015. Phase one looks at their current strategic plan and how successful they have been in delivering on their goals. Find out more about the consultation and how to respond

Update on the Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act which received the Royal Assent on 8 April 2010 and implementation of core provisions will begin on 1 October 2010.

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