Proskills, the timber Sector Skills Council since January, has secured £3.47m of government “match” funding to pay for training and qualifications in the low carbon agenda at companies in the process and manufacturing sectors it represents.
The organisation said it had gone through a rigorous process to obtain the cash, which has been awarded as part of the Joint Investment Programme (JIP).
So far it has secured commitments from 140 employers in the nine sectors for which it is the SSC to participate in the programme, involving over 3,500 learners.
“We are delighted to be able to win for our employers substantial funding for training in such a strategically important area,” said Proskills CEO Terry Watts. “And I’m really pleased by their response to the JIP. The large numbers of companies and learners, together with very significant financial and resource commitments, shows how seriously businesses in our sector take skills and how they will respond to a sector-driven initiative.”
Skills minister John Hayes said: “We need to support the demand for technical skills in order to ensure that British businesses can succeed and take advantage of opportunities for growth.
The joint investment showed “government and business working together to develop and deliver the skills needed in areas such as advanced manufacturing and the low carbon economy”, he said.
Among the other industries for which Proskills is SSC are furniture and building products.
For more information contact Proskills wood industry lead strategic programmes manager Jackie Bazeley, jackie.bazeley@proskills.co.uk.
