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College skills fund gets a £20m boost
A £20 million boost has been given to a regional training fund for businesses managed by Calderdale College.
The Enhancement Fund, unique to Yorkshire and Humber, has supported 6,000 businesses of different sizes and sectors to train and develop their staff.
It was set up a year ago to help a broader range of employers to access funding from the Learning and Skills Council, Yorkshire Forward and European Social Fund to train their staff.
The fund, managed for the whole region by Calderdale College, has helped secure training for more than 1,300 people at risk of redundancy, who were unable to access other types of funding.
In Calderdale, 172 firms have secured up to 60 per cent of the cost of training and staff development under the single business applications.
They have been supported by a Train to Gain broker or a training provider.
And 10 training providers in Calderdale have identified a need for a course which will benefit several businesses.
Most applications have been in the manufacturing and services sectors, with others also in construction, banking, engineering and transport.
Chris Jones, principal of Calderdale College, said: "We are delighted to play our part in operating the fund on behalf of our partners.
"The fund is playing a major role in maintaining and improving business competitiveness in Yorkshire and Humber.Our role is to support all partners in ensuring business gets the training and skills development it needs."
Ebrahim Dockrat, skills development director at the LSC, said: "We know that businesses investing in training are more successful and have better motivated and more productive employees and the Enhancement Fund has been well received for adapting to the changing skills needs and demands of employers – such as during a recession."
The 20 million boost means the fund can be extended into 2012.
Ruth Adams, assistant director of skills at Yorkshire Forward, said:"The road to economic recovery has its own challenges, and this funding will ensure that businesses are well equipped to face these challenges head-on and build for the future as the financial climate improves."
The fund has so far committed 18 million to supporting businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber.
This has been matched by a commitment of 12 million by the companies themselves.
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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