Apprenticeships key to UK government's new skills drive

London - The UK government has announced a new skills and learning programme, which it said, would involve spending £11 billion a year over the next three years on education, employment and training initiatives. The plan includes over £1billion in funding to increase overall apprenticeships places from 250,000 today to over 400,000 by 2010/11, "provided high quality employer places are available."  

Funding to be targeted specifically at expanding apprenticeships for adults aged over 25 will mean 30,000 additional apprenticeships costing £90million over the next three years. Another target is for apprenticeships for people aged over 19 to total 125,000 by 2010/11, alongside 281,000 apprenticeships for those aged 16-18, said a government statement.

Overall, total Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) funding for Learning and Skills Council (LSC) spending for adult skills and apprenticeships will increase to £4.3 billion a year by 2011. The funding is intended to provide over seven million training places over the three-year spending review period from 2008/9.

DIUS will spend around £1.5 billion per year on "first-steps" training - including getting over 3.6 million learners on 'Skills for Life' courses. There will also be a right to free, first-time full level 2 adult training (equivalent to 5 A-C GCSEs) through the provision of over 800,000 places in 2010/11 - a 30% increase on 2007/08. The Government also aims to provide over 500,000 full level 3 adult training places (equivalent to 2 A-levels) in 2010/11, 148% abover its 2007/08 level.