The government has announced plans to create millions more training places in an effort to raise skills levels among the UK’s workforce.
During the next three years, the aim is to set up over three million places on courses designed to provide basic skills for those who lack adequate qualifications.
The scheme will see 120,000 apprenticeships for the under-25s and an extra 30,000 places for older unskilled people.
In addition, there are to be another 95,000 places to help the badly qualified achieve five good GCSEs or the vocational equivalent.
One of the objectives of the new training places is to enable Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants to acquire the skills that will help them find sustainable work. At the moment, nearly one in two Jobseekers are claiming benefits again just six months after starting a job.
John Denham, the Skills Secretary, 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 in their pockets. It will also help ensure that nobody here is unable to get a job because it is easier to employ a skilled or better qualified migrant worker.”
However, business groups believe that the issue of skills is best addressed before people enter the job market.
Stephen Alambritis of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) said: “When recruiting school-leavers, over 40 per cent of small businesses report problems with basic, low-level skills such as literacy and numeracy and soft skills such as communication.
“The FSB believes that all of these skills need to be provided by the education system. The need for 3.5 million basic skills courses is an acknowledgement that the education system is not performing as it should.”
Date:19 November 2007
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