£260m to boost skills training of young people

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Asset Skills welcomes Chancellor's budget plans

March 2009

Asset Skills supports budget measures to boost the skills and training of young people.

The Chancellor will spend more than £260m of new money for training and subsidies to help young people get the skills and experience needed for work. This funding has been pledged for sectors with 'strong future demand'.

"If we are talking about industries with strong future demand, facilities management should be top of the agenda," said Richard Beamish, Chief Executive of Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the facilities management (FM) industry.

"Now, more than at any time before, this growing sector should be given the recognition it deserves from helping tighten public spending through outsourced government contracts, to ensuring buildings meet tough new environmental regulations.

"FM allows businesses to focus on their core work – never more crucial than at this testing time. We welcome the continued focus on improving skills during the recession - it is raising the level of skills in the workforce that will help employers survive the downturn and emerge stronger when it's over."

Many new jobs resulting from the budget will be green with investment in wind power and home insulation. A further £1 billion will be allocated to low carbon industries while almost £1 billion will be invested in housing supply and construction. A £435m programme to improve the energy efficiency of social housing, businesses and public buildings was also announced.

"The cash boost for housing will increase future demand for staff with the right skills," said Beamish.

"We are working with housing associations to help them access funding for the right sort of training that meets their needs and in reforming vocational qualifications for the sector."