Apprenticeships and leadership training to be boosted as part of skills overhaul

An expansion of the apprenticeship scheme and an increased focus on leadership in SMEs are part of the government's new plans to improve the nation's skills.

Publishing the strategy earlier this week busines secretary Vince Cable said: "If we are to achieve sustainable growth, nothing is more important than addressing current failings in skills training."

The Skills for Sustainable Growth and Investing in Skills for Sustainable Growth papers were launched at the annual Association of Colleges conference in Birmingham and a full transcript of Cable's speech is available here.

The reform of the skills system includes:

• £605m investment in adult apprenticeships in the 2011-12 financial year
• Reforming apprenticeships so that Level 3 becomes the level to achieve, and there are clear progression pathways
• Support for SMEs to develop leadership and management skills
• Replacing Train to Gain with an SME focused programme to help small employers train low-skilled staff
• Investment of £210m in adult and community learning, to support personal development, inclusive communities and a route into formal learning for the disengaged
• Introducing government-backed loans from 2013-14 for learners aged 24 and over undertaking Level 3 or higher qualifications.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has welcomed the plans to continue to co-fund SMEs to develop key leadership and management skills.

Ben Willmott, CIPD senior public policy adviser, said the focus on leadership and management training highlighted the government's recognition that improving management in firms was one of the keys to accelerating UK productivity and growth.

"With the economic challenges faced by this country over the next few years, boosting employment and productivity will be crucial - something that will only be achieved if the UK's people management skills deficit is tackled," he said.

And the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) also welcomed the strategy.

NIACE chief executive, Alan Tuckett, said: "The papers contain a number of proposals which confirm that, despite the painful consequences of budget reductions, ministers are alive to the need to maintain high levels of participation in lifelong learning."

But some experts have criticised the plans saying the financial investments will be offset by wider budget cuts that come into place during the governments comprehensive spending review period.

Read more on this in Martyn Sloman's blog here