News
Proskills secures funding for print qualifications
Proskills UK is pleased to confirm that OFQUAL have re-accredited the Level 2 and 3 Certificate in Printing and Graphic Communications.
The Skills Funding Agency (SFA), which funds adult further education and skills training in England, turned off the funding support for several key print qualifications in England because of relatively low learner numbers.
This would have had a major impact on providers, learners and employers alike in the printing industry and Proskills argued the fact that the qualifications were specialised and vital to the printing industry and as a result the SFA reversed their decision.
“This is another example of how the current skills system is dysfunctional, and we continue to lobby for an industry driven skills system with employer led Sector Skills Councils having a more prominent role, which would avoid this kind of thing happening” commented Tom Bowtell, General Manager of Proskills.
It was also announced that the recently expired Print Technical certificate has been reinstated following Proskills’ work with City and Guilds and OFQUAL. Without this, Printing Apprenticeship frameworks would disappear and funding would be unavailable with devastating consequences for the printing industry.
Michael Johnson from BPIF was delighted with the news saying ‘As an Industry we must be united. Proskills has come of age and completed excellent work with regard to the recent funding issues and we must get behind them.’
John Procter, Business Manager Digital Communications at Leeds City College said “We were very concerned by the possibility of losing Print Qualifications and funding so applaud Proskills efforts to get the qualifications switched back on. We had 70 learners on the technical certificate alone independent of Apprenticeships so this is welcome news. We will continue to work with and support Proskills work in the skills arena.”
For more information please contact Richard Moore on Richard.moore@proskills.co.uk or call 07910 247734.