Business News

Shake up in Government funding

Amongst the Coalition Government’s recent announcements of cuts in education and training has been the welcome news that funding is being increased for apprenticeships with an expected delivery of 14,000 new apprenticeship places for young people over the next three years.

This new funding has been made possible at the expense of cuts elsewhere including the ending of the Train to Gain scheme that previously supported employers training costs. Its is the governments hope that employers will take advantage of the apprenticeship scheme and use the benefits it offers to grow their businesses and strengthen future competitiveness.

3SIXTY has a range of apprenticeship packages and will be happy to explain how the scheme works and recruit and support your apprentices.

Time to Train

From 6th April 2011 employees who have been in continuous employment for at least twenty six weeks will have a statutory right to request time for study or training from their employer. This extends the same right that has been available since April 2010 for employees in businesses with 250 or more employees.

Under this scheme employers will have to approve the request with 28 days or meet with the employee to discuss the request. The discussion will cover the benefits identified by the training and how it would be delivered and the costs. During the discussion, the employer may wish to suggest alternative training options or different ways of meeting the training needs. If an employee is unhappy with an employer’s decision, there is an appeal process they can follow.

Those employers who already have training schemes in place or planned will be able to offer these as alternatives where they meet the needs agreed.

Find out more at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/Timeoffandholidays/DG_183635

3SIXTY would be happy to discuss the study and training options open to you that will enhance workplace performance, increase competiveness and increase staff confidence and loyalty.