Pictured above: Ross Gurdin, Policy Advisor at Birmingham Chamber Group

The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce is alarmed to learn that UK is slipping down world education rankings in maths, reading and science having been overtaken by Poland and Norway.  

Ross Gurdin, Policy Advisor at the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group said: "While the number of GCSE students taking up science has increased this year we are failing to shape up compared to other OECD countries threatens to damage the UK's long term growth."  

In 2009 75% of the working-age adult population had numeracy skills below the level of a good pass at GCSE and 56% had similar literacy skills.  

Poor basic skills in the workplace cost UK industry more than £4.8 billion a year from low productivity and attendance, inadequate quality control, lost orders and bad communication.

Poor literacy and numeracy is often cited by employers as one of most fundamental issues that government needs to address.  The UK spends £54,000 per student - while Germany and Hungary achieve a similar performance for £40,000 and £28,000.  

Chamber member Kate Canty said:: "The problem is down to attitude. We have to encourage pupils to want to learn, and we cannot do that just by throwing money at the problem.  You only have to look at the amazing work being done at Perry Beeches, the most improved school in the history of exam results in the country, to see that attitude plays a huge part in the attainment of pupils."

Skills shortages and skills gaps in Birmingham directly affect the productivity and bottom line of businesses.  This is reflected in a Birmingham Chamber survey where 92% of respondents thought that the skills levels of their employees were crucial to the success of their business. 

Birmingham Chamber is working to encourage the business community to take advantage of opportunities to up-skill their staff and to facilitate links between industry and education.

The Chamber is urging the Government to provide assistence to businesses that feel it necessary to improve employees' skills, but also focus on addressing these issues in schools before they cause problems to businesses.