Cable announces apprentice scheme
Business secretary Vince Cable has announced plans to increase the number of adult apprenticeships in a speech in Birmingham. Cable, who was speaking at the Association of Colleges conference at the ICC in the city, said there will be 75,000 more adults starting as apprentices by 2014/15 than planned before.
He said 200,000 adults will be able to start an apprenticeship by 2014/15 and the government will invest £605m in adult apprenticeships in 2011/12.
The government is also looking to revamp its qualification system for apprentices and funding for adults aged 19 to 24 taking training. There are also plans for an innovation fund attracting £50m of government investment a year. Train to Gain is also to be replaced with an "SME focused programme to help small employers train low-skilled staff".
Cable said: "If we are to achieve sustainable growth, nothing is more important than addressing current failings in skills training, and this strategy reflects this government’s determination to do both.
“We are not in a position to throw money at the problem, but even against the backdrop of reductions, resource will be found to expand the apprenticeship programme for adults and support more people undertaking an increasingly respected form of vocational training.”
