Manpower Services Commission

[1] The MSC had a remit to co-ordinate employment and training services in the UK through a ten-member commission drawn from industry, trade unions, local authorities and education interests.

The Policy and Planning Division was initially based in Selkirk House, High Holborn, London and later moved to the Moorfoot Building in Sheffield.

At Selkirk House a team of policy makers took responsibility for putting Geoffrey Holland's Young People and Work report of 1977 which created the Youth Opportunities Programme (YOP).

YOP had its critics and bad press, especially for its work experience programme where several companies were accused of manipulating the system to get their 'free boy or girl' for six months.

Many young people were initially attracted by the electronics side, especially with music sound systems being popular at the time.