UK Business Information / Training
The following information has been provided by UKTI.
The UK has a highly skilled workforce that is committed to ongoing training and development. The UK training industry is world-class, comprising vocational and professional training, as well as education and personal development. Expenditure on private sector training in the UK was approximately £20 billion in 2009, while expenditure by the UK Government on providing training programmes was over £10 billion.
PUBLIC SECTOR TRAINING PROVISION FOR BUSINESSES
There are many UK public sector organisations that provide training for businesses, employees and the unemployed.
a) In England: The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) funds training for adults.
The SFA is responsible for “Train to Gain”, the main business support training initiative which offers businesses free and subsidised bespoke training. The key services offered by a Train to Gain skills broker include:
− a detailed analysis of training requirements for individual businesses (and the identification of opportunities for government-funded training),
− the provision of information on potential training packages,
− access to flexible and high quality training (delivered mainly in the workplace), and
− support for organisations working towards the “Investors in People” standard.
The SFA also supports other key training programmes such as “Apprenticeships”, “Advanced Apprenticeships” and “Higher Apprenticeships”. Each year, over 220,000 people start one of 190 different apprenticeships. Visit the Apprenticeships website here.
b) In Wales: Post-16 training is co-ordinated by the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS), part of the Welsh Assembly Government.
DCELLS provides the following services for businesses:
− a training adviser who undertakes a free skills diagnostic to assess training requirements; prepares a training plan for individual businesses; helps source an approved training provider; and helps to secure funding (where available),
− subsidised work-based training (including apprenticeships and diplomas),
− subsidised leadership and management workshops, and
− support for organisations working towards the IiP standard.
c) In Scotland: Training for businesses is coordinated by Skills Development Scotland which offers a range of bespoke training programmes and Apprenticeships.
d) In Northern Ireland: The Department for Employment and Learning is responsible for providing further education and training.
Invest Northern Ireland provides businesses with access to a range of bespoke training services, including:
− a free diagnosis of a company’s full training requirements (including the development of a training action plan), and
− a subsidised “Business Improvement Training Programme”.
e) Other key training initiatives for businesses in the UK include the following:
− Sector Skills Councils (SSCs): The SSCs are independent employer-led organisations that cover key sectors across the UK. The objectives of the SSCs are to reduce skills gaps and shortages, improve productivity and increase the take-up of existing training programmes (such as apprenticeships). For further information visit the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils' website.
− Learndirect is a network of more than 1,000 online learning centers across the UK that provide access to a range of e-learning opportunities. Learndirect offers courses at all levels, providing employers with an innovative way to develop the skills of their workforce, and individuals with a flexible approach to improve their skills. Learn Direct operates two different websites, one for businesses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, another for businesses in Scotland.
− Investors in People is a national quality standard that helps organisations to improve their performance by linking the training and development of their employees to the objectives of the business. For further information, visit Investors in People
PRIVATE SECTOR TRAINING PROVISION FOR BUSINESSES
There are several thousand commercial training organisations in the UK comprising trade bodies, training institutions and training providers. These offer the widest range of training possible, from basic skills training through to leading-edge skills development in high-technology sectors, and include key business training in topics such as:
− accountancy and finance,
− information technology,
− languages,
− sales and marketing,
− supply chain management,
− quality assurance, and
− project management.
For more information on private sector training providers in the UK, please see:
− British Chambers of Commerce
