Education and Skills secretary Alan Johnson has revealed that 150 companies have signed up to sign up to a public pledge to train their staff.

By making the Skills Pledge, employers commit to support all their employees to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills and work towards a full level 2 qualification equivalent to five GCSEs A* to C.

Johnson said: "Skills are vitally important for individuals, their future employability and for the success of businesses throughout the UK.

"That is why I am so pleased to see so many companies making the Skills Pledge. I hope others will follow their lead, helping the UK to meet the challenges set out in Lord Leitch's Review of Skills.”

Johnson also announced that Sir Michael Rake will be the first chair of the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills, a new employer-led voice at the heart of the skills and employment agenda.

He also announced four new National Skills Academies for retail; sport and active leisure; glass manufacturing, coatings, print and building products; fashion textiles and jewellery sector.