Government announces £150 million to upskill workforce - Are You Taking Advantage?

A new funding scheme has today been announced which will enable businesses in England to build a ‘fit for purpose’, skilled workforce…

The government is set to roll out the second round of the Employer Ownership Pilot (EOP) which is already giving nearly £70 million to companies including Nissan, Whitbread and GE Aviation.

The new ‘pot’ will hold a sum of £150 million and businesses across the country can now bid for a share of this to create the training schemes they need to grow their companies, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock announced today:

“For Britain to compete we need as a nation to deliver the skills employers need. This is a unique opportunity for companies across all industries to secure their futures by addressing their skills needs now. I would encourage businesses ­ large and small ­ to be ambitious and innovative in their vision for how the fund can help them grow, from creating new apprenticeship programmes to setting up specialist training academies. The Employer Ownership Pilot is not only strengthening individual businesses. It is showing us new ways to make sure the whole of the UK economy has the skills it needs to compete in the global race.”

Steve Terry, Managing Director at Astutis said:

"We know from experience that funding is a limiting factor for businesses ­- never more so than in today’s tough economy. Health and Safety and Environmental issues are a key priority for businesses and we are delighted that the government is investing so that employers are able to field a workforce which is fit for purpose and up to date with current issues and legislation across the board."

Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), which championed the vision for employer ownership, said:

“Business leaders must think strategically about their personnel - equipping workforces with the skills they know are missing, or developing those areas which have the potential to support organisational growth. If UK industries are to thrive it is essential that a labour market exists which is fit for purpose now and in the future, with talented staff amongst the best in the world."

The round two prospectus is now available online and the deadline for bids is 28 February 2013. Why not take a look and discover if you are eligible for funding under this new scheme?