{"id":1969,"date":"2010-11-03T11:48:46","date_gmt":"2010-11-03T11:48:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ihbconline.co.uk\/newsachive\/?p=1969"},"modified":"2010-12-17T18:12:55","modified_gmt":"2010-12-17T18:12:55","slug":"skills-minister-new-arts-and-craft-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsblogs.ihbc.org.uk\/?p=1969","title":{"rendered":"Skills Minister: new Arts and Craft Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/strong>Skills minister John Hayes today signalled a new vision for craft and vocational skills as he spoke of the re-emergence of the Guilds and announced an ambition to create a new and prestigious award for Craft.
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\nThe minister was at the RSA where to deliver a speech on how practical and skills have evolved through history and the role they must now play in contributing to both the growth of the economy and an individual\u2019s employability prospects and wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

John Hayes, said: \u201cFor decades, people have been calling for greater parity of esteem between academic and vocational qualifications. But those calls have invariably fallen on deaf ears. Instead, we\u2019ve seen the demotion of practical learning. The\u00a0Arts and Crafts movement\u00a0recognised the unbreakable link between satisfaction in work and quality of life \u2013 between craft and beauty. It\u2019s been clear since even before guilds and livery companies existed that different sectors require specific skills, and that it therefore makes sense for sectoral bodies to be closely involved in designing training and qualifications and in setting standards. I know that the\u00a0sector skills councils, trade organisations, livery companies and others are keen to build on the good work they already do. That\u2019s why the Government will work to establish a circle of Guilds to be at the heart of the re-evaluation of the power of practical learning\u201d<\/p>\n

In his speech to an audience of RSA fellows, employers and members of the FE and skills sector, the minister called for a \u201crevaluation\u201d of the way that skills are seen and the value they add to individual employment prospects, life experience, national economic prospects and the character of a civil society and to the economy in order to stimulate and maintain growth.<\/p>\n

The four ways in which the minister says the system can grow are:<\/p>\n