The Single Voice
Company inauguration, 18 December 2007
The Single Voice represents the sector in strategic dialogue with government on regulatory matters. It represents and supports providers in interpreting and responding to regulatory directives set by government and national agencies, while in doing so accepting and recognising the distinctive voices of representative bodies from different parts of the sector. It will be responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining the framework for self regulation and developing a rolling programme of activity for this purpose.
The Single Voice has been set up as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital, established according to the terms of a Memorandum of Association. It will establish an overarching code of conduct for providers, to which each provider will be required to adhere.
The Single Voice will be the vehicle for transforming further education into a more self-regulating sector. It will be characterised by delivery through the representative bodies. The Single Voice will not develop into a bureaucracy; rather it will provide opportunities for providers themselves to take ownership of the changes necessary to achieve the aims and objectives set out in this paper. We envisage that a small secretariat function will be necessary to support this work, together with full or part time secondments where this is necessary to provide required expertise.
