The Learning and Skills Council for England has announced that the Train to Gain programme will include a contribution to wage costs for small firms.
Train to Gain will cover the whole of England from August 2006, and comprises the following elements:
- Access to free, impartial skills brokers who can advise you on your skills needs, and direct you to appropriate training provision to meet those needs;
- Free training for staff who lack basic skills or a first Level 2 qualification.
- Contribution to wage costs for firms employing fewer than 50 people.
The contribution to wage costs consists, in effect, of two 'offers':
- The full payroll costs (ie excluding National Insurance contributions, pensions, etc) of releasing staff for companies willing to share information about wage levels with the local LSC (information which will be restricted to the Train to Gain programme)
- For companies unwilling to give this information to the local LSC, a national flat rate of £5 an hour wage contribution has been agreed.
To qualify for the compensation;
- the company must employ fewer than 50 people;
- the training/qualification must be successfully completed; and
- the training must involve the release of staff during their normal working hours.
The contribution to wage costs is also available for staff who are classified as "Level 3 jumpers" - ie they lack a first full Level 2 qualification (eg 5 GCSEs at A*-C or an NVQ Level 2), but on assessment are found to be capable of completing a Level 3 qualification, which the employer agrees is of value to their business.
Some elements of the scheme are still to be finalised, such as the maximum wage cost compensation which can be claimed.
For information on Train to Gain in your area, see the website at http://www.traintogain.gov.uk/
30 May 2006