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Empey welcomes Bernadette Brown chairing Future Skills Action Group

17 November 2009

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has announced a new Chair of the Financial Services Future Skills Action Group (FSAG).

Mrs Bernadette Brown is a HR Business Partner with one of the UK’s leading financial institutions, Abbey National/Santander UK, and will take up the role with immediate effect. She succeeds Sir Roy Leighton, Chairman of the Financial Services Sector Skills Council, who had been in the role since its inception last year.

Sir Reg said: “I welcome Bernadette as Chair of the Future Skills Action Group and I am confident that her experience and background will bring many ideas to the table to ensure the successful development and implementation of the Plan.  I wish her every success in the role.”

The FSAG brings together representatives from Government, industry and education to help meet the skill needs of the financial services sector in Northern Ireland and work is underway to produce an action plan which will help the industry in the long term.  The financial services sector has felt the effects of recession more than most and therefore as the economy begins to recover the work of the FSAG and an action plan will be a welcome boost.

Notes to editors:

  1. The Future Skills Action Group for Financial Services emerged in 2008 to work on the development of an Action Plan to help meet the needs of the financial services sector.
  2. The group has held several meetings, however progress to develop and implement an Action Plan for the sector in Northern Ireland has been slower than anticipated due to the downturn in the financial services sector.
  3. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Employment and Learning Communications Branch on 028 9025 7872. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.