Welfare Reform on the Web (August 2009): Education - UK - training

Challenging boundaries to 'employability': women apprentices in a non-traditional occupation

A. Andrew

Social Policy and Society, vol. 8, 2009, p. 347-359

This article is based on a case study of women apprentices in a non-traditional occupation, engineering construction. It is argued that the concept of 'employability' is not gender-neutral, and that gendered assumptions about who is or is not employable for particular work can disadvantage women seeking training in non-traditional industries or dissuade them from applying to do so.

Review of sector skills councils

L. Higgs

Children and Young People Now, June 25th-July 1st 2009, p. 10

The government is in the process of reviewing all 25 sector skills councils to make sure that they are as effective as possible. Sector skills councils set standards, identify skills shortages and deal with workforce development, while also championing employers. Those which the review finds to be under-performing will have their licence to operate withdrawn.