People across the East Midlands are benefiting from £18 million in Government investment in skills and training to help them get and keep jobs through the downturn, Skills Secretary John Denham said today.
Across the region, the Government has re-orientated the skills and training budget, so that people can gain the skills they need to get into and stay in work in these tough times.
In response to the downturn and to ensure the East Midlands is well placed for the upturn, the Government has:
- Invested £11 million to make skills and training available for people who have lost, or fear they may lose, their jobs; and
- Invested £7 million to help people who have been unemployed for more than six months access skills and training to help them back into work.
The funding is part of the £4.5 billion that the Government is spending on adult skills nationally and will be used to ensure that more people can get the benefits this training brings.
Skills Secretary John Denham said:
"This Government is offering real help now for people and businesses across the East Midlands. We have acted to make sure that people have access to the skills and training they need to keep their jobs or get back into work.
"We know that people whose skills are up to date are more likely to find a good job, and that employers with well-trained staff do better than those that don't invest in the skills of their workforce."
A record number of people have already gained vocation qualifications through the Government's Train to Gain programme.
The qualifications cover a range of skills and training, giving people what they need to find work and get on at work, improving their chances of being employed.
Nationally, adults achieved 187,300 qualifications through Train to Gain in 2007/08, more than double the number in 2006/07.
In the East Midlands the number of people gaining valuable work related training increased from 6,500 in 2006/07 to 18,100 in 2007/08. Northamptonshire saw the highest number of Train to Gain qualifications in the region last year, with 3,200.
Train to Gain is the Government's service to help employers improve the skills of their employees and the productivity of their business. But the benefits of Train to Gain are not just economic.
Over recent months, the Government has responded to employers' needs and has made Train to Gain more flexible and responsive, which has helped to drive the increased demand. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be top priority for Train to Gain funds, including growth of the overall Train to Gain budget worth £350m, over the next two years, to help them get through the tougher economic climate by building the skills and expertise of their workers.
From January this year, DIUS has relaxed the rules so that SMEs can get funding for short courses in business-critical areas, and more funding for qualifications even when employees already have a qualification at that level. DIUS has also made funding deals with particular industries to meet their different skills and training needs.
Findings from further research published recently, shows that gaining a qualification improves many people's self-confidence and motivation at work, as well as giving them skills that will appeal to employers.
New research published last month by the Learning and Skills Council shows that both employers and employees continue to be highly satisfied with Train to Gain.
An evaluation of employers found that:
- 92 per cent of employers who have accessed Train to Gain have been satisfied with the training, and the provider who delivered it;
- 68 per cent of employers stated that Train to Gain training has improved the long-term competitiveness of their business; and
- 46 per cent of employers stated that Train to Gain has had a beneficial impact on their "bottom line".
An evaluation of learners found that they felt there was real value in achieving a qualification. Respondents spoke with great pride about what they had gained and described how it gave them confidence, credibility and real gains in terms of their current job and future career:
- 89 per cent of new learners said the training gave them skills that would help with current and future jobs and employers;
- 45 per cent of new learners reported receiving a pay rise which they attributed to their training;
- 48 per cent of learners in a longitudinal group reported increased promotion prospects.
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