Member Article

Bannatyne signs Government skills pledge

Duncan Bannatyne, star of BBC TV’s Dragons’ Den and a major regional and national employer, is putting his weight behind a major new initiative to improve the skills of the workforce and make the nation more competitive and profitable.

Mr Bannatyne, Chairman of the Bannatyne Group, has signed the ‘Skills Pledge’, a government initiative backed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) North East and supported by the CBI and the North East Chamber of Commerce aimed at encouraging employers to train their workforce. The businessman has committed to increasing the number of people in his organisation with a minimum NVQ Level 2 qualification.

Mr Bannatyne employs about 2,500 people nationwide and is a strong advocate of individual skills development within the workforce. In particular, his health club business offers a wage incentive programme to fitness staff who learn new skills that will benefit club members.

Duncan Bannatyne said: “My businesses have been built on delivering members and customers a top quality service which is wholly reliant on the quality and skills of our employees. We have always encouraged staff development and signing the Skills Pledge reaffirms Bannatyne’s commitment to investing in our people to improve our businesses.”

Sarah Green, Regional Director of the Confederation of British Industry, which is leading the Skills Campaign, said: “Duncan Bannatyne is a successful businessman with a high national profile and his endorsement of the Skills Pledge is testament to the drive to increase the skills levels of the workforce in the UK, but more specifically in the North East, where his business empire was founded and he continues to live.”

Chris Roberts, Regional Director, LSC North East, said: “Employers don’t come more successful than Duncan Bannatyne and his commitment to the Skills Pledge reinforces the importance of continual workforce development in maintaining a competitive edge. “Through signing the Skills Pledge, employers receive broker support to help grow their business and develop their employees with the help of Train to Gain. There is no need for employers in this region to get left behind.”

For more information on the Skills Pledge, visit traintogain.gov.uk or call 0800 015 5545.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .