ACS

Three-quarters of employers training their staff through the Government’s flagship Train to Gain programme have seen significant gains in performance and in the skills of their workforce, according to reports published today. The vast majority of employers and learners gave the training available via Train to Gain the thumbs-up, according to independent research commissioned by the Learning and Skills Council.

The success of Train to Gain was also seen in statistics published today which show a dramatic increase in the number of people training with Train to Gain, and a significant rise in the number of learners achieving level two and three vocational qualifications, equivalent to five good GCSEs or two good A levels respectively.

Train to Gain is helping an increasing number of employees, many unlikely to have benefited from training in the past, to up-skill and gain qualifications that will help them get on at work and make a real difference.

The considerable benefits from participating in Train to Gain training reported by employers include:

• 74 per cent noted improvement in job-related skills and performance;
• 66 per cent, even at an early stage, believe the training is contributing to improved long-term competitiveness;
• 80 per cent noted improvements in the self-confidence of their staff;
• 80 per cent reported improved quality standards;
• 61 per cent improved productivity;
• 53 per cent improved staff retention; and
• Overall, over nine in ten employers who accessed Train to Gain training were satisfied with the course and training provider.

Train to Gain helps employers identify and source training to improve the skills of their workforce and their business performance. It also encourages employers to invest in the development of the skills and qualifications of their employees. Today’s reports suggest that the current economic climate has not stopped employers from training their staff so they can be in a better position to prepare for the upturn.

Under Train to Gain, information about training available and how it can benefit a business is provided by skills brokers with industry expertise through Business Link, which also offers a range of free advice on business matters such as tax, health and safety and finance. More than 60 per cent of employers were very satisfied with the service skills brokers provided, and 80 per cent of employers said they would recommend Train to Gain to other business colleagues.

More importantly, the brokerage service is helping workers access training who may have been overlooked in the past. The employer evaluation found:

Among those training with a skills broker who had trained in the previous year, 70 per cent of these employers trained staff who had not previously benefited from training;
69 per cent trained more staff than they would have done otherwise because of Train to Gain; and
41 per cent extended the offer of training to groups of employees which would not have had this opportunity otherwise.

Skills Minister Kevin Brennan said: “It is great news that Train to Gain is proving such a success with employers and learners alike and that record numbers of people have got a qualification. Behind these figures are real businesses with improved performance and real people with a brighter future and better life chances.

“Employers are seeing their staff better motivated, more skilled and more committed, and this follows through to better service and better products.

“We need to make sure that we continue to help people access the skills and training they need to get into and get on at work, especially in tougher times, and do all we can to help businesses succeed. That’s why the Government is giving real help now to individuals and businesses so they can emerge stronger from the downturn.”

The benefits of Train to Gain are not just economic. Findings from a learner evaluation published today show that gaining a qualification improves people’s self-confidence and motivation at work, as well as giving them skills that will appeal to employers.

Key findings from the learner evaluation include:

90 per cent of learners gained a qualification after their training;
88 per cent gained skills that will help with a future job or employer;
83 per cent gained skills to do a better job;
34 per cent received a pay increase after their training;
34 per cent were promoted after their training; and
72 per cent plan to do a higher level qualification in the next three years.
Overall, 95 per cent of learners were satisfied with their training.
Funding for the Train to Gain programme has increased again in 2009-10 (academic year) to £925 million, which will support 949,000 learners. Since its launch in April 2006, more than 143,000 employers have engaged with the programme. The Government will continue to grow, expand and improve Train to Gain and will invest over £1 billion per year through the service by 2010-11 to support one million learners.

Over recent months, the Government has responded to employers’ needs and has made Train to Gain more flexible and responsive, which has helped to drive the increased demand. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be top priority for Train to Gain funds over the next two years to help them get through the tougher economic climate by building the skills and expertise of their workers. From January 2009, Train to Gain rules were relaxed so that SMEs can get funding for short courses in business-critical areas and more funding for qualifications even when employees already have a qualification at that level. Funding deals have also been made to meet the skills needs of particular industries with a key role to play in driving Britain’s future economic growth.

The statistical first release can be foundhere.

For the full report click here.