Health And Social Care Sector Helps Training Service Reach Anniversary Milestone, UK

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 08 Oct 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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More than 17,500 businesses in the health and social care sector have benefitted from the Government's flagship training service - Train to Gain - helping it to reach a milestone number of employers in time to mark its second year anniversary skilling-up the nation.

Almost one in five employers in this sector are involved in Train to Gain but the Government is calling on even more to take advantage of the training service for the good of their company, their staff and the country.

Managed by the Learning and Skills Council, Train to Gain was set up two years ago to help employers tackle the urgent skills shortages in the UK, highlighted by the Leitch Review of Skills published in December 2006.

Crabtree Care Homes, which offers residential care for 72 elderly people across two sites in West Yorkshire, has used training to change the ethos and structure of the company.

Human resources manager Andrew Crabtree, whose parents set up the company, said: "We began our relationship with training through Investors In People a few years ago and Train to Gain is the latest in a line of Government-backed training initiatives which have made a very serious contribution to the continuing success of our business."

Recently Andrew received funding through the Train to Gain service which allowed him to send 13 members of staff on NVQ training courses to improve their skills.

Chris Banks, Chairman, Learning and Skills Council said: "Only two years in, Train to Gain is growing in momentum and helping us combat the skills deficit - but we still need more businesses to get involved.

"A hundred thousand businesses have benefitted from Train to Gain but there's lots of work to be done if we're to strengthen our economy and compete globally.

"Health and social care employers need to take advantage of the range of training and funding opportunities available through Train to Gain. And more importantly, we all have to recognise that training can help to shape a better future for companies, their employees and for the entire nation."

Lord Young, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills said: "Successful employers see up-skilling the workforce as one of the most powerful things they can do to drive their businesses forward. Employers who have invested in the skills of their people in the past will be better placed to respond to the economic challenges, and they will also be better placed to take advantage of the opportunities in the next period of growth.

"Now more than ever, employers need to ensure they are getting the best from their staff by taking advantage of the range of training and funding opportunities available through Train to Gain."

Employers can access the impartial advice of a Train to Gain skills broker who will help to indentify their skills needs and source the best tailored training provider and any funding for which they may be eligible.

Miles Templeman, Director General, Institute of Directors (IoD) said: "Skills and training have never been more important to UK businesses. In the ever-intensifying heat of global competition, skills are a critical factor in determining business success. IoD members are fully committed to this agenda - over 90 per cent provide training for their employees.

"The LSC's skills survey also shows overall employer spending on training at a record level. Services like Train to Gain will help to maintain this encouraging trend. It has made a very positive start and there is clearly considerable potential to build on this foundation by continuing to raise its profile in the business community. It is there, after all, for employers to take advantage of."

With a 17.6 per cent share in the total employer take-up of the service, Train to Gain has proved most popular with the health and social care sector. Close behind are the retail sector with 14.2 per cent share and the property sector with a 13.4 per cent share.

To ensure the service meets employers' changing needs, the government announced a £1 billion expansion of Train to Gain in December 2007. This enables all businesses to get involved in training at all levels - from gaining qualifications at Basic Skills through to leadership and management training, there are opportunities for all.

Skills gaps are further being plugged via the Government's Apprenticeships programme which employers can access through Train to Gain. Training providers and colleges can also give employers skills and funding advice for their business.

Learning and Skills Council

The LSC exists to make England better skilled and more competitive. We are responsible for ensuring the availability of high-quality education and training for everyone. We have a single goal: to improve the skills of England's young people and adults to world class standards.

Our vision is that young people and adults in England have knowledge and skills matching the best in the world and are part of a truly competitive workforce. We work nationally, regionally and locally to deliver this ambition on behalf of learners and employers.

Train to Gain

Managed by the Learning and Skills Council, Train to Gain is the government's flagship service to support employers in England, of all sizes and in all sectors, to improve the skills of their employees, unlock talent and drive improved business performance. An important element of Train to Gain is the skills brokerage service which offers free impartial advice, and helps find the best training solution from high quality and responsive training providers to meet business needs.

Train to Gain is important because skills shortages continue to have a negative impact on UK productivity and competitiveness in the face of fast-growing economies. Train to Gain aims to encourage all businesses and individuals to value and realise the benefits that learning and skills can bring and to invest appropriately.

To find out more about how Train to Gain can help, employers should call 0800 015 55 45 or visit http://www.traintogain.gov.uk. Alternatively, individuals and employers can access the information they need on skills via a dedicated phone line and website. The phone number is 0800 011 30 30 or website: http://www.lsc.gov.uk/inourhands

Train to Gain