UK Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are seen as critical to policy makers’ aspirations to develop an education and training (E&T) system that is both ‘demand-driven’ and ’employer-led’ and where employers ‘play their part’ in national upskilling. However, the concept of employer leadership remains deeply problematic in the English context, with some commentators arguing that the system is better viewed as government/target-led. More recently, the Leitch Review of Skills has offered employers a new training contract or ‘something for something deal’. If this deal is to succeed much will depend upon the ability of SSCs to engage employers in their sectors and build commitment to the Leitch agenda. In light of this, the paper looks at where SSCs currently find themselves in relation to employer engagement and explores some of the main challenges they confront.
