By Alison Smith BBC News reporter at the Association of Colleges conference

Sir Andrew Foster said colleges were vital in improving skills

Sir Andrew Foster's hard-hitting report on further education in England has called for a clear focus on improving the nation's skills.

He said tougher action should be taken against a minority of failing colleges.

Delegates at the Association of Colleges annual conference in Birmingham gave their reaction.

"Some of what the sector does is brilliant - now we can fly," said Ioan Morgan, principal of Warwickshire College.

"I hope the government are going to say 'let's get on and do it,'" said Joanna Tait from Bishop Auckland College.

High praise indeed for a report which delivered an honest assessment to government and further education colleges about what they are doing well and badly.

Employable skills

Sir Andrew Foster said the government had presided over "systemic weaknesses", and colleges needed to bring poor teaching up to standard and improve leadership.

Christina Conroy (left) and Joanna Tait: Proud of their work

Businesses sometimes perceive that teaching is out of date and needs refreshing, his report said.

His vision is for a sector which is the key provider of the skills employers need.

But Dr John Brennan, Association of Colleges chief executive, said one of the core purposes of further education would always be "to transform individual lives and equip people to realise their hopes and dreams".

Colleges form many partnerships and have an ability to be innovative - this is their great strength Christina Conroy

It is clear that colleges are unwilling to dilute their adult lifelong learning remit.

Delegates at the association's annual conference say they have responded to every initiative the government has thrown at them over the years, including foundation degrees, beacon status and Skills for Life - and have got no financial recognition for their successes and adaptability.

Some college leaders may be reluctant to undergo another image change.

Christina Conroy, principal of Richmond Adult Community College, said her college already had strong links with employers.

Inadequate to outstanding Colleges must improve skills

"I have 600 lecturers who work part-time in industry.

"Colleges form many partnerships and have an ability to be innovative - this is their great strength."

Conference delegates criticised "anti-college" propaganda emanating from the CBI.

Dr Brennan said businesses needed to provide more training and identify the skills they needed rather than criticising colleges.

Mix-up and muddle

"Sir Andrew has identified mix-up, muddle and inter-departmental warfare," Ms Conroy said. "If you want a skilled nation, you have to start to lead from the top."

Joanna Tait, whose college works in partnership with IBM, agrees. "We are keen to do more but what we need is support from the system to be able to do it," she said.

But perhaps most of all, everyone seems to agree further education needs to make its presence felt and communicate the value of what it does.

"We need to demonstrate the value we have added to local areas," Ms Conroy said.

"We have done ourselves a disservice by not doing so."

But not everybody thinks further shifts in role will benefit colleges.

Malcolm Cooper now runs his own management consultancy for colleges in financial difficulty, after previously working in further education.

"Whenever the government encourages any kind of change there is chaos," he said. "It's good for my business but not for colleges."

"I have a lot of sympathy with college principals who cannot plan for the skills they need long-term. This will undoubtedly lead to pain."