British manufacturers fear growing uncertainty over the government’s skills budget is putting plans for employee training at risk.
 
Manufacturers’ organisation EEF says that, of almost 700 companies it surveyed in April, more than half are concerned about their ability to attract and retain skilled employees in preparation for the upturn.
 
And it says a statement by the Learning and Skills Council last week, seeking to clarify the funding of Train to Gain and apprenticeship programmes, offers firms little confidence about the availability of support beyond this year.

Geoff Russell, LSC chief executive, said in a letter to learning providers that there was a need to review training budgets because projected demand had increased to a level that would be greater than the available finances if not managed effectively.
 
Lee Hopley, EEF head of economic policy, who is leading calls for the government to clarify its long-term financial commitment to training programmes like apprenticeships, said: “The current position in untenable and companies need a clear commitment to maintain funding in future years.
 
“Manufacturers are taking a long term view of their skills and training needs, but these efforts are being stymied by the lack of clarity on funding for key programmes after this year.
 
“Programmes such as apprenticeships, including adult apprenticeships, are crucial in developing our future workforce but any uncertainty, especially in this economic climate, will have consequences for meeting our skill needs - not to mention the government's own targets.”
 
A Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills spokesman said: “In a recession, the most important thing we can do is to train people and give them the skills they and their employers need to lead us out of the downturn.
 
“But, of course, the training budget is not unlimited and working with the Learning and Skills Council we have to ensure that, in the long term, spending matches resources in the best interests of both learners and employers. As such, the LSC will continue to work with individual organisations to resolve funding allocations for the rest of the year.”

Subscribe to TJ news bulletins:

| Subscribe to our L & D RSS Feed

Related News

• Reaction to Brown's workplace agenda
• New government super-department for skills… but no mention of education
• Netcheck

Related Discussion Topics

• Protecting my work
• Tenders and Member Zone
• Developing the Developer survey

Latest News

• New award recognises organisations that invest in employee wellbeing
• Employers failing to Integrate talent management and diversity
• Health sector workforce skills need to be utilised more effectively, report finds
• Millionth worker completes training through Train to Gain
• Last week to apply for cash in return for help in NEET survey