News: £20m boost for region's skills fund

A regional skills fund unique to Yorkshire and the Humber that has successfully supported 6000 businesses of different sizes and sectors to train and develop their staff is to receive a £20 million funding boost.

The Yorkshire and Humber Enhancement Fund was set up a year ago to help a broader range of employers to access funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), Yorkshire Forward and European Social Fund (ESF) to train their staff.

The flexibly administered fund supports training activity that is not being met through existing resources such as Train To Gain, leading to business growth and increased competitiveness.

It has also been well placed to react to the economic climate and has helped to secure training for nearly 60 businesses and over 1300 individuals at risk of redundancy who were unable to access other types of funding.

Dockrat Ebrahim, Skills Development Director at the LSC said: "We know that business 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 success of the Enhancement Fund to date means that we can commit a further £20 million to extend the project into 2012, and will continue to work with our partners to keep the Enhancement Fund relevant to employers and to channel funding towards training that aids economic recovery and supports growth in the economy."

Ruth Adams, Assistant Director of Skills at Yorkshire Forward, said: "Ensuring that staff are trained to the highest possible level gives businesses the best chance of surviving during a recession and then thriving as the economy recovers.

"However 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."

Enhancement Fund website
Rotherham