ACS

The Department of Innovation, University and Skills (DIUS) has launched its consultation on how a new entitlement will work that enables employees to request time off work for training. It is expected that as a result of this new right around 300,000 people a year will receive skills training who otherwise would not. John Denham, Minister for DIUS, stated that the legislation could be in place by 2010, subject to its passage through Parliament.

It is planned that the new entitlement will apply to all employees who have worked for their employer for 26 weeks. The Government estimates that up to 22 million employees in England could receive extra skills training. It is proposed that requests should be treated in a similar way to those for flexible working which since its introduction in 2003 has been beneficial to both employees and employers.

Spending by employers on training is rising and estimated at some £38.6 billion a year. The major source of Government funding available to businesses which want to increase skill in their workforce is the Train to Gain programme. The money available annually through the scheme will rise to more than £1billion a year by 2010, to coincide with this new right. Of those employers who have engaged with Train to Gain, 83% cited improved self-confidence of trainees, 64% cited improved long-term competitiveness, 51% reported some increase in staff productivity, and 42% reported an impact on the bottom line.

Mr Denham, on the new right to request training, said "We need to find new ways to bring the drive for skills into every workplace and to every worker which is why we are consulting on a new right for workers to request time to train."