This book provides an evidence-based argument for the pursuit of a more highly skilled society. It argues that raising skill levels is vital to both economic success and social inclusion. In short it argues that we need to learn, in order that we may succeed. It sets out the arguments and evidence on the value of education and training. It provides a succinct account of the available evidence on the stock of the nation’s skills and the changing demand for them. It provides a foundation stone for policy development, for the setting of priorities and for action, to turn our relatively ‘skill poor’ country into a ‘skill rich’ country. It provides material that should assist policy makers and practitioners in encouraging people and business that they do, indeed, need to ‘learn to succeed’.

Over the last six or seven years, I have made over 100 presentations at conferences, seminars, workshops, dinners and other events on this theme. I have also worked on skills issues, with my colleagues here at the Policy Research Institute, on around 50 research projects for local and regional agencies (Regeneration Partnerships, Training and Enterprise Councils, Learning and Skills Councils, Learning Partnerships, government offices in the regions, Regional Development Agencies); for national government departments (most notably, of course, the Department for Education and Skills); and for international agencies (the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). I recently undertook a review of the economic benefits of learning for the National Advisory Council on the Education and Training Targets (Campbell, 2000) and also had the privilege of working with the National Skills Task Force as a member of its research group (NSTF, 2000). I was also a member of the research group advising the Cabinet Office on workforce development. I have also recently completed, with colleagues in the Policy Research Institute, an assessment of the state of skills in England (Campbell et al, 2001). It is time, therefore, that an attempt was made to draw on this material and experience to provide what the author believes is a much needed synthesis of ‘the case for skills’.