The SSDA closure follows recommendations in the Leitch Review (Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills), published in December 2006, and the Government's response to Leitch (World class skills: implementing the Leitch review in England) in July 2007.

• 1st April 2008 will see the launch of the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils – a collective body made up of all 25 SSCs. The full scope of the Alliance will develop over time, but its initial focus will be to represent and co-ordinate the strategic work of Sector Skills Councils to stakeholders across the four home nations. For more information, follow this link to visit the Alliance's website. www.sscalliance.org.
• The UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES) opened for business on 1 April 2008. The UKCES, which was set up as a result of Leitch, operates across the UK and play a central role in raising the UK's skills base, improving productivity and competitiveness, increasing employment and making a contribution to a fairer society. It will play a critical part in securing for the UK the ambitions of achieving a world class profile on skills by 2020 and the aspiration of an 80% employment rate.

For more information about the UKCES please visit www.ukces.org.uk