Train to Gain gives even more businesses the help they need to succeed
Skills lie at the heart of economic development and personal success so it is critical that employers across England take advantage of the Train to Gain service to provide their staff with the opportunity to learn new skills and develop existing ones. Moreover, by 2014, it is estimated that two-thirds of all jobs in England will require people with at least a Level 3 qualification - yet, almost a third of the workforce in England is not currently qualified to this level.
Not only does an investment in skills and training allow the UK economy to remain competitive in the global marketplace - especially in the face of rising markets - but given that one in six employers in England currently suffer from skills gaps, it is imperative that businesses of all sizes and from all sectors get involved and take control of their future.
By contacting Train to Gain, the Government's flagship service to support employers in England, of all sizes and in all sectors, to improve the skills of their employees, unlock talent and drive improved business performance. There are many advantages of a better skilled workforce - not only does it help improve business productivity, innovation and competitiveness, but it also helps ensure long term prosperity.
Managed by the Learning & Skills Council, Train to Gain has already helped almost 70,000 employers across the country improve the skills of their workforce. To help meet the individual needs of even more employers and individuals, the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, John Denham, recently outlined a massive expansion of the Service in A Plan for Growth.
Within this announcement, John Denham announced that funding for Train to Gain is expected to double to over £900 million by 2010/11 to ensure that a broader range of skills and funding opportunities are available to businesses of all sizes.
This will involve a partnership with Jobcentre Plus to help unemployed individuals find work with training and progression opportunities. The announcement also outlined additional Skills for Life funding - enabling individuals to develop their basic adult literacy and numeracy skills and Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications as well as an expansion of the LSC's National Employer Service which will provide even more support for large companies and organisations that want to take ownership of, and investment in, the skills of their workforce.
The expansion of Train to Gain will also help 60,000 senior small business leaders to access Leadership and Management funding and training over the next three years. This will involve a Leadership and Management Specialist visiting a company and carrying out a free and impartial Business Review. They will then help to develop a Personal Action Plan and find appropriate training courses - ranging from formal training, where managers work towards specific qualifications, to informal training, such as coaching and mentoring.
Another way for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to training is by making the Skills Pledge. This is a voluntary, public commitment by the leader of a company or organisation to support all its employees to develop their basic skills, including literacy and numeracy, and work towards relevant, valuable qualifications to at least Level 2. By making the Skills Pledge, employers are not only committing to training their workforce, but they are also able to ensure that their business has the edge it needs to succeed in the global market.
Through the Skills Pledge employers can access the independent and impartial advice of a Train to Gain skills broker who will visit a business at no cost to the employer. The skills broker will assess the businesses individual needs and will suggest appropriate training and funding opportunities available in a range of areas, this could include anything from first Level 2 and Level 3, Skills for Life - like English for Speakers of Other Languages. Skills brokers will also provide employers with a range of skills advice - from Apprenticeships through to recruitment issues.
Skills brokers then work closely with the training provider to ensure that relevant, high quality and flexible training is provided to meet the individual needs of the business and the employees. For example, they will look at whether or not the training is best conducted on-site to minimise disruption and allow staff to practise their skills in real situations and there is also the option of out-of-hours training for shift workers. This partnership between all parties will help enable an even more effective learning system that's more responsive to businesses needs.
- To find out more about Train to Gain and the Skills Pledge please call 0800 015 55 45 or visit traintogain.gov.uk.
- Click here for a skills broker to come and assess your businesses needs
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© 2007 Reed Business Information Ltd
