The Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) is responsible for funding, supporting and monitoring the network of Sector Skills Councils (SSCs). 

The SSDA is a non-departmental public body with its main base in South Yorkshire and representatives across the UK.  The organisation is led by Chair Margaret Salmon and Chief Executive Mark Fisher, both of whom were appointed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. 

An employer-led Board provides additional strategic support and advice.

In brief, the SSDA's responsibilities are to:

• fund, support and monitor the performance of SSCs
• ensure consistent, high-quality standards across the Skills for Business network
• ensure skills provision is designed to meet sector needs
• provide minimum cover for sectors without a SSC
• ensure generic skills are effectively covered in the work of the SSCs
• promote best practice sharing and bench-marking between sectors
• to collate high quality labour market intelligence and to make this available via a website portal.