The Chief Executive of ConstructionSkills, Mark Farrar, has welcomed the announcement that Geoff Russell has been appointed Chief Executive of the new Skills Funding Agency.

Previously, Geoff led the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), and brings with him a wealth of financial, auditing and consultancy experience from both the private and public spheres. He will take up the new role on 1 April 2010.

Mark Farrar commented: "On behalf of ConstructionSkills, I would like to congratulate Geoff on his new position. Skills are high up the political agenda at the moment, and for good reason.

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"As a nation, we're in the process of positioning ourselves as having a world-class workforce, and this will only ever be achieved by Government investment that can deliver the skills that both employers and individuals need now and in the future.

"As a Sector Skills Council, our future relationship with the Skills Funding Agency is both strategic and practical in skills implementation and delivery, and there is a significant amount of learning that we can share with the new organisation.

"In the construction industry, we're continuously looking at the best and most appropriate means of funding training, to meet the needs of the sector, and I look forward to developing new and strategic working relationships with Geoff and his team."

The Skills Funding Agency takes over the responsibility for adult skills from the LSC from April 2010 and will work closely with Regional Development Agencies and Local Authorities who will deliver skills at a local level.

(GK/BMcC)