Tackling Essential Skills in the Workplace:

Abstract

The Workplace Innovation Fund was established by the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) and was managed by EGSA who are the main advocacy and promotional body for Essential Skills in Northern Ireland. Seven projects across Northern Ireland, focusing on Essential Skills were funded up to a maximum of £30,000 each. EGSA commissioned Schemeta to evaluate the projects, map current workplace essential skills provision in NI and explore the impact of the Fund. The project represented very good value for money. In order to tackle the problem of poor Essential Skills in the workplace in Northern Ireland an investment could be made based on the learning from this project, which would create considerable changes. Such an investment would have an impact on employer/employee relationships, union/employer relationships, provider/employer relationships and contribute enormously to the development of a positive culture of learning in the workplaces of Northern Ireland.