Investing in literacy and numeracy pays Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - 14:21

Sound literacy and numeracy skills are essential in helping Servicemen and women carry out their jobs and take advantage of the training and career opportunities on offer in the Armed Forces. This was the conclusion of NIACE's three-year Armed Forces Basic Skills Longitudinal Study, commissioned by the Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which was published in June 2012.

The findings and implications for other employers are now outlined in a new summary publication, which was launched at a NIACE seminar on Wednesday 7 November - hosted at MOD - for senior policy and management staff from public and private organisations; including Government Ministers and members of the House of Lords.

The seminar was attended by NIACE's Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, and other speakers included Matthew Hancock, the Minister of State for Skills; Rear Admiral Simon Williams, MOD's Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel & Training); and Professor Alison Fuller, Professor of Education & Work at Southampton University.

Martin Rose, a NIACE Programme Manager working in the Army's Headquarters on the development of Army literacy and numeracy policy and its implementation, and one of the report's co-authors, said:

"This Longitudinal Study has provided a real insight into the value of literacy and numeracy skills in the workplace. It has shown how the Armed Forces' strong commitment to helping those who join the Services with low levels of English and maths skills has brought benefits for both the individual and the organisation."

Carol Taylor, NIACE's Director for Development & Research, said:

"Sound literacy and numeracy skills are the enabling skills that help individuals to do their job competently, improve their career chances and get more out of life, as well as improve their confidence and self-esteem. Good speaking and listening skills have a particularly critical part to play here. This study has highlighted these impacts and the genuine benefits that employers can reap from supporting literacy and numeracy training in workplace."