The Industrial Training Act, 1964: Sunderland, a sample study

Abstract

The Industrial Training Act, 1964 was introduced in order to ensure that the future needs of industry would be met at all levels by personnel adequately trained and appropriately educated. The Act granted to the Minister of Labour (later the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity) the power to establish a Central Training Council, and separate Industrial Training Boards for each branch of industry and commerce. Each board is authorised to raise a levy from employers within its scope and to pay grants to employers who undertake to provide training and associated education to the standards determined by the board. The educational content is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science through the Colleges of Further Education and of the Examining Bodies. The first chapter described the situation in 1964 and suggests criteria by which developments may be evaluated. In order to place these developments in perspective, the second chapter analyses briefly the evolution of training and technical education in Britain with examples from Sunderland. The third chapter reviews the Act itself and details the powers which it embodies. Three chapters examine the work of the Shipbuilding, Construction and Engineering Industrial Training Boards respectively. In each the work of the Board is related to the aims and provisions of the Act and is illustrated by specific examples from Sunderland. Commercial and Clerical training is then considered in order to provide material for comparison. The concluding chapters summarise the achievements between1964 and 1968. An analysis is made with reference to the criteria of Chapter One. The general conclusion is that the Act creates a structure adequate to meet the needs, but the strengthening of its administration is required at both central and local levels to ensure that all employees in all industries are suitably trained and educated.