The Secretary of State for Universities, Innovation and Skills, John Denham, has today announced the details of a £158m fund to help make it easier and quicker for people to get advice on careers and training to help them back into work.
£4.5 billion is already invested in adult training and this announcement will help ensure more of that spending is targeted where it counts in these difficult times. More services will be targeted at people who are at risk or have very recently lost their jobs, rather than just the long term unemployed.
Colleges and other training providers are being asked to bid for funds so people can get the help they need without having to go to the jobcentre. More money will be available for short term pre-employment training for an extra 40,000 people who need new skills or pre-job training in order to get work.
From early next year there will also be an increased provision of advice on careers and the training available to help people get the jobs that are available. This will be accessed through Job Centre Plus, careers advice services or via Learndirect over the phone or online.
Employers will also receive support if they take on people who are currently out work and claiming benefits so they can access free support so that they can refresh old qualifications or obtain new ones.
The Government already provides support to those businesses and employees through its workplace training scheme, Train to Gain.