Skills scheme’s funding doubled

Jan 23 2008 by Karen McLauchlan, Evening Gazette

FUNDING has been doubled for a national training service, which has already worked with firms across the Tees Valley.

The Government has outlined how a massive extension of the Train to Gain scheme will offer bespoke skills brokerage and high quality responsive training to help all employers to identify and then meet their skills needs.

The doubling of funding in the Train to Gain Service is part of a massive investment programme announced by Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham, which will see more than £11bn a year invested in education, employment and training.

Since its launch in 2006, Train to Gain has helped more than 52,000 employers and enabled more than 240,000 employees to undertake training.

Just one call to the Train to Gain helpline gives employers access to an independent skills broker to help them identify their skills and other business needs, and source training form a range of available skills solutions to best meet those needs.

To enable every company to access appropriate training, the following major expansion to the Train to Gain Service has been announced:

More funding will be offered from a broader range of skills. Part funding will now be available for those doing a second full Level 2 qualification and funding for Level 3 will be increased nationally. Skills for Life training will now be supported as a stand alone offer as well as part of a full Level 2 qualification.

The funding cap to be lifted for the best providers, enabling them to do more business as their performance improves.

A massive boost for small and medium-sized enterprise management training – the budget has increased from £4m per annum, which will support some 6,000 key directors and managers in around 42,000 companies over the next three years.

The LSC’s National Employer Service will be expanded, with additional account managers to help more of the country’s largest national employers, while skills brokerage will also be extended to help provide even more companies with specialist support.

By working closely with Jobcentre Plus throughout their Local Employment Partnerships, Train to Gain will support people who have been unemployed to secure employment with training and progression on to higher level skills.

New compacts with each Sector Skills Council which will tailor Train to Gain to ensure it meets the skills needs of employers in each sector – and joint investment planning so that public and employer funds work together to boost skills and improve.

Chris Roberts, regional director with the LSC North East, said: “Train to Gain is a revolutionary development in the way that we deliver services to employers and these changes will ensure that even more employers and training providers are able to work with the Government to raise the nation’s skill levels.

“The expanded Train to Gain Service will enable employers of all sizes, in all locations and across all sectors to take the future of their business into their hands through access to high quality training advice and support.

“In this way it will play a key role in reaching out to the one in their businesses that still do not offer staff any training – and so will in turn transform the nation’s skills base, productivity and competitiveness between now and 2020.”