1. Why would the work of the Tecs improve industrial competitiveness and economic development?
2. Identify the unemployed groups which the Tecs are targeting with their new initiative to improve skills.
3. Explain why the government set up Tecs to intervene in the labour market, particularly when many people who are trained are employed by profit-making firms.
4. The report suggests that there is a skills shortage. Why don't firms train the people they need themselves?
5. Based on the information contained in the article, discuss whether you think the Tec initiatives represent value for money.