Government to spend on basic training
Posted: 20 November 2007
DIUS Secretary, John Denham, has announced that the government will be spending £1.5 billion on basic training, including more than 3.6 million new places on the Skills for Life programme.
He also announced 150,000 new apprenticeships, including 30,000 reserved for learners over the age of 25. There will be more than 400,000 apprenticeships by 2010-11, 281,000 for learners aged 16-18 and 125,000 for those over 19. The government will create a right for adults to receive training to a full Level 2 qualification, and open more than 800,000 places to accomplish this. The government will also open more than 500,000 places for adults to train to a Level 3 qualification.
An increase in the budget for the Train to Gain skills-brokerage programme, which advises on skills training and procures such training for business, will rise to more than £1 billion in 2010-11 (from £440 million now), serving a projected 872,000 learners. More than £2 billion will be made available for spending on educational facilities. £500 million will be transferred to 'Skills Accounts' by 2010-11, allowing learners to direct funding to courses of their choice. In total, spending on learning and skills will increase to £12.3 billion per year by 2010-11, up from £6.5 billion in 2001-2. £6.8 billion of this will go to places for young people.
The government also announced it would aim to have 82 percent of 19 year olds reach Level 2 by 2011, and 85 percent by 2013, with 54 percent achieving Level 3 by 2010-11.
A new, 'more transparent' 16-18 funding system will be employed for sixth forms, colleges and other providers, to be put in place during 2008-9. £600 million will be dedicated to education maintenance allowances. Denham said,
“For millions of people, skills and learning are the key to improving their lives - whether getting into and on at work, improving job prospects or simply putting more money into their pockets. For the country, skills and learning are the key to remaining globally competitive.”