The funding crisis at the Learning & Skills Council (LSC) has led to a major NVQ wood processing machinery training programme at Leeds College of Building being axed.
The college has seen its “Train to Gain” budget from the LSC slashed by £200,000 as the organisation tries to claw back a multi-million pound overshoot in its capital spending budget. As a result, it has had to cut some programmes involving external training providers, including the wood machinery courses.
“The reduction in Train to Gain allocations means [we] can no longer support split income partnerships and now have to focus on projects where [we] are the sole training provider,” said a Leeds College statement.
One company involved in the Leeds wood machinery programme was Weinig. It stresses that its commitment to training through other channels continues. In fact, it is currently upgrading its own training facilities at its UK headquarters in Abingdon.
Leeds added that it also has a “number of other training arrangements” with the company.
The crisis at the LSC, which is due to be disbanded, centres on an overcommitment of funds to construction projects, which some reports say could cost the government tens if not hundreds of millions of pounds. Some colleges are said to have demolished existing buildings after getting the go ahead from the council for rebuild projects, only to find that they won’t now get the funding.
Of the 144 approved funding bids from colleges approved by the LSC, only 13 will go ahead this year.
