Bill Midgley column

Jan 25 2006 By Bill Midgley, The Journal

It was pleasing to read the report in The Journal of Saturday last on the seminar headed up by the Learning and Skills Council on the 14 - 19 Education Agenda.

The skills deficit, which undoubtedly affects the performance of far too many of our companies, still remains.

And it is certainly well evidenced that there has been a marked recognition within Government circles of the need to place more resources in providing skills for business, and to bring skills qualifications to an equal status with academic qualifications.

However, what I do find disturbing is that as the national president of an organisation which represents 5.2 million people of the UK workforce, in that having requested attendance at this seminar (following, I have to say, an invitation to make such a request) no invitation was ever received.

Perhaps somewhat ironic, bearing in mind that I regularly discuss this issue with Government Ministers, and indeed with the national chair of the organisation hosting the event.

A question often asked of me is: `where are the business leaders of the North-East, and what contribution are they making to a whole range of issues in respect of regeneration of our region'?

Apart from those of us who are probably seen as being too old to have any original thinking, far too many have become dissatisfied with the way in which agencies who are responsible for such development are patronising, condescending or merely ignore what many who would wish to contribute have to offer.

The North-East has great potential, and yet patently continues to under-perform.

Mediocrity would appear to be the ambition, and this in a region which, whatever else may be said, still is at the wrong end of the majority of the economic and social measures that are produced.

Across the board the business community has much to offer.

And if the view taken is "they also serve who only stand and wait" is appropriate, then I am afraid that those who seek to govern us are sadly misguided.

In the meantime, it looks as though I am stuck with my visits to London to represent the views of those businesses who invest £20bn per year on skills training.

I would hope, however, that the North-East does not continue to ignore those who have much to give to the region.

Bill Midgley is President of the British Chambers of Commerce.