Sector Skills and Productivity Alliances (SSPA)

The SSPA model is unique to the Northwest region and has been developed in response to the Skills White Paper ‘21st Century Skills’ published in July 2004. SSPAs are a partnership of the key players in the skills arena, including Sector Skills Councils (SSC), the Learning & Skills Council (LSC),the Northwest Universities Association (NWUA), Business Link, NWDA Skills unit and many other influential bodies.

There are 20 individual SSPAs covering every sector of the workforce such as aerospace, construction, food and energy & environmental technologies and services - which Envirolink Northwest is particularly involved with.

SSPA action plans are aligned with emerging knowledge, intelligence and action on priority skills for the sector.

Sector Skills Councils (SSC)

Each SSC is an employer-led, independent organisation that covers a specific sector across the UK. The four key goals are:

• to reduce skills gaps and shortages


• improve productivity, business and public service performance


• increase opportunities to boost the skills and productivity of everyone in the sector's workforce


• improve learning supply including apprenticeships, higher education and National Occupational Standards (NOS).

SSCs provide employers with a unique forum to articulate the skills and productivity needs that are pertinent to their sector.

Sector Skills Agreement

An SSA is a deal between employers, training providers and government.

Employers lay out what their workforce and skills requirements are now and in the future. In return, the government and providers agree to fund and deliver training tailored to this need, providing employers are also willing to make a commitment. It affects all aspects of skills and training – both new entrants and existing workers. Government will use the SSPA when developing policy for the sector. The SSA will be viewed as the definitive document on the sector’s position, and the needs of its future skills and training provision.

To find out more about how the Energy and Environmental technologies and services SSPA can help your company visit the NWDA Website.