Three government ministers to speak at ALP’s annual conference

Ministers from three different government departments will be giving keynote speeches at this year’s annual conference for vocational and work based learning providers held by the Association of Learning Providers in Nottingham.

Ministers from three different government departments will be giving keynote speeches at this year’s annual conference for vocational and work based learning providers held by the Association of Learning Providers in Nottingham.

Delegates will also hear one of the first speeches from Chris Humphries in his new role as chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

With many ALP member organisations delivering skills provision for the LSC and employment services for Jobcentre Plus at a time when government policy is encouraging more joint working between the two funding agencies, the key theme of the conference is employment and skills.

High on the agenda at the conference is expected to be the Government’s forthcoming consultation on machinery of government changes which will propose how the planning and funding of employment and skills will be structured and managed after 2010.

This year, ALP is recognising the increasing importance of Third Sector providers in the delivery of public services and it is delighted to welcome Phil Hope, the Cabinet Office minister, to speak at the event.

Keynote speakers at ‘ALP 2008 – The Forum for Employment and Skills’ include:

Bill Rammell MP, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education

 

Stephen Timms MP, Minister for Work

 

Phil Hope MP, Minister for Third Sector

 

Chris Banks – Chairman, Learning and Skills Council

 

Melanie Hunt – OFSTED

 

Martin Dunford, ALP

 

Chris Humphries, UK Commission for Employment and Skills

 

David Hunter, LLUK

 

Dave Simmonds, Inclusion

 

Professor Derek Longhurst, Foundation Degree Forward

 

Sir George Sweeney, Single Voice

 

Anne Seaman, Skillsmart.

 

In addition to the main plenary sessions, the conference will as usual feature a packed programme of workshops where providers will have the opportunity to discuss the delivery of key government programmes such as Train to Gain, Apprenticeships, the new Diplomas and Flexible New Deal.

Graham Hoyle, chief executive of the Association of Learning Providers, said: “The timing of this year’s ALP annual conference could not be better with the Government pressing ahead with reforms as part of its post-Leitch employment and skills agenda. Independent vocational learning providers and colleges have an exciting part to play in the latest initiatives which recognise that skills are key to creating more sustainable employment. There is no better forum than this to ensure that the policies and programmes are on the right track.”

Sponsored by City & Guilds, the ALP annual conference is being held at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham on Tuesday, 6 May, and Wednesday, 7 May 2008.

Details of the programme will be updated on the conference website at: www.livegroup.co.uk/alp2008.