The government has announced its latest initiative to tackle the UK's skills gap following the collapse of the controversial Individual Learning Accounts system.

At the centrepiece of the white paper is an expansion of the £30 per week education maintenance allowance to include 19 to 30-year-olds. Until now the allowance has only been available to 16 to 19-year-olds.

Construction Industry Training Board

Sir Michael Latham, chair of the CITB, told ePolitix.com: "The choice of construction as the first sector to test the concept of a sector skills agreement is a tremendous recognition of the extent of our collaborative work already underway with the Learning and Skills Council.

"We are delighted to be working in partnership with the LSC and other public and private sector bodies to improve qualifications and training still further. CITB realises the challenges that come with an employer-led agenda and is looking forward to developing the partnership with LSC to deliver, in the most effective way, the skills the industry needs.

"CITB's role is to represent the views and needs of the industry to ensure that the proposed sector skills agreement delivers targeted funding and training where employers need it most.

"Construction is perfectly placed to be the pilot sector as it already employs a partnership approach on a national and regional scale working with the LSC, RDAs, employers, employer federations and training providers to focus all the relevant parties on addressing the real challenge - that of increasing the numbers of people training in construction.

"One such partnership with the LSC has already delivered the On-Site Assessment and Training programme which has been specifically designed around employers' needs. In addition we also undertake detailed research of the skills employers need to improve productivity. This will inform the sector skills agreement and resulting training plans on a national and regional scale.

"The sector approach will make a real difference. By bringing the various different public and private sector bodies together, by really focusing on each sector's needs and by incorporating employers' views, the sector approach should result in a faster, more targeted, deployment of funding where it is really needed."

"The skills strategy provides a valuable opportunity for all employer-representative bodies, such as the sector skills councils, to influence the deployment of training funding to produce the skills the industry requires. Such an inclusive approach can only encourage employers to really get behind the ethos of lifelong learning and ensure that all employees and new trainees are given the opportunity to train to Level Two or above."

Forum Response: GMB

Kevin Curran, general secretary of the GMB, said: "Without a right to paid time off for training there is a hole at the heart of the government's skills strategy. The white paper is a welcome step towards tackling Britain's skill shortages. But it falls short of the radical response that we had been hoping for.

"The skills shortage that we are currently facing is putting certain sectors of our economy at risk. Learning needs to be undertaken at all periods of employment so that we can stay at the forefront of innovation.

"The government has recognised the value of extending modern apprenticeships to every worker, no matter the age - a move we strongly support. So are help for adults lacking a Level Two qualification and involving unions on sector skills councils. But by saying no to paid time off for training the government is denying many workers a chance to upgrade their skills.

"The employer training pilots should not be used as a delaying device to make adults wanting to retrain wait even longer. Without training obligations too few firms will invest in their staff on the scale needed to close the skills gap between Britain and our rivals abroad.

"I believe that we are very close to getting a skills strategy that will make a real difference to workers and will strengthen our economy and I urge the government to take the final step of ensuring workers the right to have time off for training."

Forum Response: Federation of Small Businesses

David Bishop, deputy head of press and parliamentary affairs at the FSB, told ePolitix.com: "The FSB welcomes government initiatives designed to combat skills gaps across the UK, and increase productivity. Small firms face considerable problems recruiting suitably skilled staff at all levels, from basic skills through to management and leadership.

"The skills strategy is an important step towards raising the skills level for both the benefit of business and the individual, and the FSB hopes that the key aims and principles incorporated in the progress report will be developed on further."

Forum Response: Institute of Directors

Ruth Lea, head of the policy unit at the IoD, said: "We give a broad welcome to the new skills white paper from the DfES - not least of all because any initiatives that seek to tackle the appalling lack of basic skills in a sizeable minority of the British people deserves support.

"We are also pleased to see emphasis on vocational training and more support for those in full-time courses at further education colleges. We have little doubt that business will support these initiatives, on the understanding they are voluntary.

"However, we still have some reservations about the government's overall approach to education and skills training - not least of all its obsession with targets."

Forum Response: Age Concern

Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England said: "People over 50 have fewer qualifications and are less likely to receive training than younger adults. If the government is to make age equality in the workplace a reality, older people must have equal access to training.

"Age Concern is delighted that Modern Apprenticeships are now available to older workers. However, today's white paper has fallen short of giving older people equal access to training and education. In particular, student loans are still unavailable to anyone over 55."