News
Funding Update for Qualifications
For the past few years employers and providers have enjoyed a period of relative stability in the funding support and qualification systems. The change from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to the Skills Funding Agency; the introduction of the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) and the all-round reductions in Government spending means that there will no doubt be an impact for all. However, there are also positive signs of support continuing through fifty-fifty employer/state funded programmes and focussed impact programmes that have a return on investment and so help sustain UK Plc moving forward.
“I think these are exciting times.” said Jonathan Ledger, Proskills Strategic Programme Manager. “The flexibility that the QCF modular qualification approach brings, means that qualifications and training will be delivered in an employer led way, rather than supply led as has generally been the case for many years. The mix and match units will provide a competence framework flexible and yet rigorous enough to meet the demanding and individual needs of every employee job role. The funding systems that support learners and employers needs to be just as flexible and the adjustments that we are seeing right now are the first change to ensure correct alignment. Coupled with these changes, all involved in the skills system, including the users (ie learners and employers) need to do more of what is right for the business to help themselves improve and grow and create that sustainable and affordable future we all seek. When the dust finally settles I have no doubt that the funding system will be much stronger and allow many more employer partnership opportunities that really will make a difference to business.”
This information is a general update to provide a simple summary of the main changes to the current funding and qualification structures. There are going to be some regional variances to some of the programmes of offer and as the situation is quite fluid at present, this can only ever be a guide.
Funding Update July 2010
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Apprenticeship Update July 2010
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The Joint Investment Programme
The proposal for this programme was submitted mid May 2010. Because of the election and the Government review of spending, any decisions were put on hold. We have been informed the the next stage of proposal review will now take place in July and August 2010. Once we know the new timetable, we will advise all.
Please Note
Although we are as confident as we can be of this information, in the current climate things can change rapidly. Equally there will be situtaions where Providers, Regional Development Agencies (RDA) and others have some discretionary funds that may become available outside of this summary. Plus European funding is still available that has rules of its own which may be different, some times more flexible, sometimes less and usually aimed at a very specific cohort – maybe by postcode or industry subset or employee type. Proskills does look for these funds, and uses them where appropriate but like funding of this type will continue to appear, apparently randomly via providers.
Disclaimer: Proskills provides this summary information as a guide only and as such, the Proskills Group accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Employers should always confirm the actual funding changes or potential impact with their training supplier(s). Likewise, Training Providers and Colleges should always check the funding changes relating to their funding contract with their lead provider, funding partner or The Skills Funding Agency. All funding is subject variations due to regional priorities, current Government policies and more.