Skills Minister John Hayes has invited employers, individuals, colleges and training organisations to share their ideas on how they would like skills policy to be set out in the future. The consultation document Skills for Sustainable Growth outlines BIS's vision for skills and what are expected to be the key elements of a strategy for delivering it. The documents invite views on:

• How private investment in skills can be optimised in accordance with benefits and to allow public money to be used most effectively where it is most needed;
• Where more limited public investment should be focused and the skills system can be made simpler and more effective;
• How support for individuals and employers can be improved to develop skills and learning and meet the needs of the economy;
• How businesses can be encouraged to engage in supporting local community learning;
• Holding colleges and other training organisations to account for their performance in responding to learners and employers needs and to prioritising training that adds real economic value.

 Skills for Sustainable Growth will inform a strategy on skills which will be published in the autumn after the Spending Review. The strategy will outline the Government's principles for the skills system and a framework for policy for the next five years. 

The consultation FE and Skills Funding examines ways in which the funding to support the development of skills can best be allocated and used, and includes in its reach funding policy and budgetary arrangements for colleges and training organisations, the funding formula, allocations, procurement and contracting and performance management. 

The consultations will close on 14th October 2010