Asset skills secures £2m investment for skills to drive growth
January 10th 2012

More than £2 million will be spent on projects to drive employer investment in skills across the Asset Skills footprint.

The funding,provided through the Employer Investment Fund and administered by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, will help Asset Skills implement a range of employer-led programmes.

The £2,026,000 will be used across four projects over two years in facilities management, housing, property, planning, cleaning and parking.The projects include:

• Establishing clear routes to employment across the UK with pilots;

• Developing strategies to help employers identify and develop talented people;

• Increasing investment in relevant higher level skills;

• Providing relevant labour market information and careers advice to support employers with their strategic planning.

Chris Cracknell, chief executive of OCS Group Limited and Chairman of Asset Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the above industries, said: “We hope this funding can help build further capacity for employers to take ownership of the skills agenda within each industry Asset Skills represents.This investment shows skills improvement will play a key part of the growth agenda and in helping lift industry out of recession.”

Richard Beamish, chief executive of Asset Skills said:“This is really welcome news for the sector and means we can continue to develop new apprenticeships and workspecific training that will strengthen the workforce and help employers through this difficult time.”

The UK Commission received 109 proposals into the fund totalling over £119m. Following a rigorous assessment process,Commissioners chose 63 of the best solutions with the greatest potential to drive growth and employer investment in skills.

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