ABSTRACT
A main theme of this book is that Britain has a poor record of industrial training compared to her European and international competitors, and some argue that this has been the cause of Britain’s relative economic decline.1 The importance of an adequately trained workforce in creating a flourishing economy is apparent, and Britain still has a long way to travel in generating a training culture, out of which alone, high-quality and relevant provision can develop. Effective and widespread training at both youth and adult levels is a prerequisite both of economic success and of a society composed of satisfied individuals engaged in fulfilling work. Yet training is only one source of a good national economic performance, as it must be reinforced by appropriate macro-and micro-economic policies, and by supportive attitudes and behaviour from employers and workers. Training must be linked, therefore, with other elements such as enterprise, which is particularly emphasized by Conservative governments, but also with suitable public labour-market and educational policies. Training is crucial, therefore, but sadly there would only be true grounds for optimism if rhetoric were accompanied by appropriate action. While national expenditure on training increased sixfold between 1981 and 1989 only to fall back after 1989 under the Conservatives, opposition parties still maintain that the issue has been neglected compared to Britain’s economic rivals.2
