Tees Valley businesses in line for funding package

Feb 27 2008 by Sue Scott, Evening Gazette

TEES VALLEY businesses could benefit from a share in £105m over the next three years for training courses where the cost is jointly shared by the individual, the state and the employer.

Professor David Eastwood, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announced the funding package at the University of Teesside, which hosted the Conference of Northern Universities last week.

Professor Eastwood said that HEFCE, through its support of universities and colleges, was on track to create 5,000 new places part-funded by employers by 2008-09.

The target would then be raised to at least 10,000 new entrants in 2009-10 and a further 20,000 in 2010-11.

Professor Eastwood said: “When people ask what ‘employer engagement’ means in a modern setting, I could start by pointing them to your own work here at the University of Teesside.”

The university has already taken part in a Department of Health-funded digital X-Ray management training programme, which the school of health and social care runs with the film company Agfa.

It gave honorary lecturer status to two experienced radiographers, who then ensured that what they learned was taught more widely within their NHS organisations.

It also developed a modular management training programme for Sainsbury’s and its Bells convenience stores, which fitted in around supermarket managers’ 45-hour weeks and accredited the company’s existing ‘in house’ programme.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Police and West Mercia Constabulary are using a mock court room, crime scene house and police station on campus as part of a Foundation Degree course developed with the university.

“This is not an agenda with which universities are unfamiliar,” said Professor Eastwood.

“This is in part about a rediscovery of roots and a vision deeply etched in universities’ history.

“That so many universities and colleges are already engaged with employers is no accident.

“It reflects their refreshed mission; and for many it is now part of their core business.”

Professor Eastwood told the conference that funding from the earmarked employer engagement stream worth at least £105m could be used in a range of ways which would help a university or college to change the way it works with employers.

These include paying for new infrastructure including ICT, or training staff.

In return, a provider would need to agree to achieve a significant level of new co-funding from employers.