These websites provide access to the most recent VET information produced by government departments and national research organisations in Britain.

Alliance of Sector Skills Councils
The Alliance commenced in 2008 and comprises all 25 licensed UK Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). The alliance acts as the collective voice of the SSCs in order to promote understanding of the role of SSCs within the skills system across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to co-ordinate policy positions and strategic work on skills with stakeholders across the four home nations. The website provides links to the Sector Skills Councils, further information about the industry sectors, the Alliance, news and events, publications and contact details.

Centre for Labour Market Studies (CLMS)
The Centre is one of the leading international centres of research and teaching in the fields of employment and training. It produces research on labour market and training issues which contributes to academic knowledge and is of practical policy relevance. It produces and delivers courses on employment and training to the highest academic standards with the highest quality of support. The website provides further information about the Centre along with links to their research program, online courses offered, training and human resources links and publications.

Centre for Economic Performance (CEP)
The Centre is an interdisciplinary research centre based in the London School of Economics (LSE) Research Laboratory. It studies the determinants of economic performance at the level of the company, the nation and the global economy by focusing on the major links between globalisation, technology and institutions (above all the educational system and the labour market) and their impact on productivity, inequality, employment, stability and wellbeing. The website provides links to Centre sponsored events and seminars, information about the research program and staff working in the Centre and additional resources such as links to useful sites and Centre publications.

Centre for the Economics of Education (CEE)
The Centre is a multidisciplinary centre with three partners: the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at LSE, the Institute of Fiscal Studies and the Institute of Education. It was set up to undertake systematic and innovative research in the field of the economics of education in five distinct but closely related areas: methodological development; production of education and skills; supply of education and skills; demand for education and skills; and returns to education. The website provides further information about CEE, its research program, the staff, and provides access to publications available online.

City & Guilds Centre for Skills Development
Established in 2008, this Centre aims to improve economic and social prosperity through vocational education and training. Working in consultation with the vocational skills community, industry, commerce and governments across the world it will seek to understand the international skills agenda and drive positive change wherever possible. The website provides links to further information about the work of the Centre and to resources and publications produced and available for download.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Created in June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) the department is committed to building Britain's future economic strengths by providing a regulatory environment that encourages enterprise, skilled people, innovation, and world-class science and research. This website provides access to new BIS publications along with those produced by the former DIUS and BERR, media releases and ministerial speeches.

Learning and Skills Council
The Council is a non-departmental public body responsible for planning and funding all post-16 education and training other than in universities. The website provides information about the Council, latest news, the corporate plan, links and contact details. The Provider area of the website offers national information for key partners and stakeholders on funding policy and provider finance within the education sector, financial support for learners and data from the analysis and management information team. The website also provides information about LSC activities and publications and links to relevant websites.

Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS)
The LSIS is a sector-owned organisation dedicated to supporting excellence and leadership development in the further education and skills sector. The organisation came into operation in 2008 with the amalgamation of the Quality Improvement Agency and the Centre for Excellence in Leadership. The website provides corporate news and information about LSIS and links to websites offering information about specific programs and services.

Learning and Skills Network (LSN)
This Network provides services to policy-makers, to organisations that fund, manage and provide education, and to individual providers and practitioners across education and training. These services fall into three broad categories: programs; research; and training and consultancy. The website provides further information about the role of the LSN and links to sections on their research, events, resources, projects, consultancies, networks, programs and publications.

National Skills Academy Network
This Network of employer-led centres of excellence focuses on sectoral skill needs and training and development solutions. The Network sponsors National Skills Academies that provide tailored, employer-led training in 16 industry sectors. The website has extensive information about the network and its individual skill academies.

National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE)
NIACE is a non-government organisation for adult learning in England and Wales. It works in all fields of education and training, including local authority-organised provision, the further education college sector, higher education in universities and colleges of higher education, employment-led learning involving both employers and trade unions, and learning in the voluntary sector and through the media, especially broadcasters. The website contains links to further information about publications, campaigns and promotions, projects and research, conferences and information services.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA)
The QCA is the guardian of standards in education and training. It works with others to maintain and develop the school curriculum and associated assessments, and to accredit and monitor qualifications in schools, colleges and at work. The website provides information about the QCA and its mission and corporate goals along with links to national qualifications, curriculum and assessment, research and statistics, publications and latest news.

Quality Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning (QIA)
In 2008, the Quality and Improvement Agency for Lifelong Learning and the Centre for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) began working together to form a new sector-owned organisation, the  Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), that supports development in the further education and skills sector. The QIA will continue to operate until all its programs are transferred to the LSIS. QIA's role is to create a strong strategic focus on improving quality in further education and training. The website provides information about the structure of the QIA, the Quality Improvement Strategy,and the QIA's programs and services, research and publications.

UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)
The Commission was launched in April 2008 and aims to raise national  prosperity and opportunity by improving employment and skills. It will monitor the performance of the various employment and skills systems and recommend improvements. It will provide advice to relevant ministers on strategies and policies required to increase employment, skills and productivity. The website contains extensive information on the work of the Commission, research undertaken or commissioned, standards and qualifications, publications, events, and sector skills agreements.

University for Industry (Ufi)
Ufi aims to use technology to develop the skills and employability of the working population. To achieve this it set up learndirect, a national e-learning network. There are two strands of learndirect: Skills and Qualifications for the individual; and Business for employers. The website provides information about Ufi's learndirect programs for education and business and offers access to Ufi news and publications. 

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