Rochdale businesses invited to bid for share of £250 million skills boost

Employers in Rochdale will be amongst the first in the country to learn about how they could benefit from up to £250 million of government investment in training.

A pilot scheme, “Employer Ownership of Skills” will give businesses in England direct access to up to £250 million of public investment to boost Apprenticeships and other vocational training.

Details of how to apply will be revealed by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills at an event at Manchester’s Deansgate Hotel on Tuesday 6 March.

Sean Taggart, owner of travel group Albatross and a Commissioner at the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, said: “Businesses in Britain are facing some very difficult challenges as the economy struggles to grow. A highly skilled workforce is essential if we are to meet those challenges. The Employer Ownership Pilot will enable employers to design, develop and deliver the training their business needs for growth.”

Skills minister John Hayes said: “The Government recognises that it is businesses themselves that are best placed to judge what skills they need to grow. That is why we are stepping back and empowering companies by giving them direct access to funding and the freedom to create training programmes, including apprenticeships that directly address skills gaps.

“I encourage firms to seize this opportunity to bring us innovative and powerful ideas that will help their businesses to grow and create a more prosperous economy.”

More information about the Employer Ownership of Skills pilot is available at www.ukces.org.uk/employerownership