The UK Commission for Employment and Skills was launched on 1 April 2008 and has been tasked by the government with helping to ensure the UK's employment and skills systems contribute to the highest levels of productivity.

The establishment of the UK Commission was a key recommendation of the 2006 independent report by Lord Sandy Leitch, 'Prosperity for all in the global economy – word class skills'.  It is chaired by Sir Michael Rake, chair of BT, who leads a group of 20 highly influential commissioners, including Richard Lambert, Director General of the CBI and Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC.

The remit of the UK Commission is to provide vigorous and independent challenge, advising government at the highest levels across the UK on employment and skills strategy, targets, policies and progress towards the challenging competitiveness goals set by Lord Leitch, including the vision of an 80% employment rate by 2020. 

Its ambition is to benefit employers, individuals and government by advising how improved employment and skills systems can help the UK become a world-class leader in productivity, in employment and in having a fair and inclusive society: all this in the context of a fast-changing global economy.

Because employers, whether in private business or the public sector, have prime responsibility for the achievement of greater productivity, the UK Commission will strengthen the employer voice and provide greater employer influence over the employment and skills systems.

More information is available at the UKCES website.

A detailed version of the UK Commission's organisational structure is available.