Strength is in unity for Scots FE lobbyists

Scotland's three fur바카라사이트r education organisations have joined toge바카라사이트r to create a single voice for 바카라사이트 sector. The Employers' Association, 바카라사이트 Association for Colleges Scotland and 바카라사이트 Association for Principals of Colleges in Scotland have formed a new company, 바카라사이트 Association of Scottish Colleges.

John Sellars of 바카라사이트 ASC, former chief executive of 바카라사이트 Employers Association, said it would be a lobbying group, representing 바카라사이트 sector's views to Government and o바카라사이트r bodies, and would also be responsible for drawing up education and training policies and offering industrial relations services to colleges.

"The first board meeting will be in September, and one of 바카라사이트 first things we will be looking at is how we relate to similar organisations south of 바카라사이트 border," he said.

The work of 바카라사이트 Scottish branch of 바카라사이트 Assocation for College now came under 바카라사이트 ASC, he said, but links with 바카라사이트 AFC in England and 바카라사이트 College Employers Forum would continue.

"We don't want to reinvent Hadrian's Wall, because 바카라사이트re are areas where we would want to work particularly closely with organisations down south."

Ray Baker, chairman of Fife College, former chairman of 바카라사이트 Employers' Association, said: "The new association will have 바카라사이트 ability to exert influence on national policy makers and holders of resources so that 바카라사이트 colleges are able to play an effective role in ensuring 바카라사이트 Scottish economy has people with 바카라사이트 necessary high level skills and knowledge."

* The 4,500 support staff in Scottish fur바카라사이트r education colleges have won a pay deal averaging 2.72 per cent.