We welcome the overall tone of the consultation, which demonstrates a commitment to providing logical models for funding, which enable providers to be more responsive to employer and individual needs. However, the proposed models could still fail, if elements within each model are not applied in a logical way.
It is imperative that the funding provided by government supports increases in the relevant skills levels of the population. The paper, while including consideration of the Sector Qualifications Strategies and Qualification and Credit Framework, still focuses funding and support on basic skills, and Level 2 full qualifications. For engineering, and many other parts of manufacturing, this activity is largely accrediting existing skills.
If UK plc is to improve its competitiveness, those sectors requiring high level skills will require funding and support for technical, bespoke training which meets the needs of their business.
More support needs to be given to learners to enable them to complete training which they have started, before the system focuses on expanding with new learners and providers.
More funding of unitised qualifications should help learners and employers be more selective in the learning undertaken, which should lead to improved completion rates.
Once these changes are in place, increasing financial incentives to complete agreed training outcomes, and activity to increase learner numbers, will be appropriate.
Added 13 April 2007