Comprehensive Spending Review

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End of Train to Gain but increased funding for adult apprenticeships.

Oct 2010

Asset Skills welcomes the announcement in the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review of an increase in funding for adult apprenticeships of up to £250 million by 2014-5.

It acknowledged the ending of the Train to Gain programme for supporting the costs of training for employers and welcomed the new Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) focused training programme, more details of which are set to be announced.

Asset Skills also welcomes the continuing support for basic skills provision so that those who did not succeed in these areas in school can continue to develop basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Chief Executive Richard Beamish said: "We view the ending of the Train to Gain programme with mixed feelings. We have worked hard alongside the Skills Funding Agency to ensure employers in the industries we cover receive the best possible support in terms of ensuring the skills bases vital to productivity and effectiveness. We also acknowledge that resources are finite and that some employers have found the system difficult to manage. We hope the increased focus on apprenticeships and on SMEs will enable support for skills where they are most needed, and within a simple, easy to understand, and effective system.

"Asset Skills will continue with its comprehensive programme of working directly with employers, simplifying the skills system for them, and ensuring their training needs are met. We achieve this through our Virtual Skills Academy and through our programme of meeting with employers whenever and wherever resources allow.

"The detail is yet to be forthcoming of course, but we look forward to working closely with the Skills Funding Agency and Government departments to ensure we make the best possible use of the resources available."