Government Axe Vital Funding for Leading Skills
Manufacturing Sector Reaction
Date
27/10/2020
Categories
Enginuity news, Industry news
The timing of this decision is bizarre in the extreme ... The Government needs to urgently rethink this decision
A Government decision to axe vital funding for two leading skills initiatives just as a wave of unemployment sweeps the UK has been met with ‘surprise and disappointment’ from a wide range of organisations in the manufacturing sector.
The announcement also appears to fly in the face of the Prime Minister’s pledge for a Lifetime Skills Guarantee which recognised the need for workers to refresh their skills constantly.
Funding for the Union Learning Funding (ULF) and unionlearn will cease in April, it has been revealed.
In a letter sent to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson, seven CEO’s from employer-facing organisations say the move will weaken the workforce, damage businesses and worsen the economic crisis.
One of the signatories Ann Watson, CEO of engineering skills charity Enginuity, said: “The timing of this decision is bizarre in the extreme.
“These two vital skill operations are needed now more than ever, just as a tsunami of redundancies will crash across the country.
“The two initiatives would have played significant roles in supporting employees, the businesses they work for, and the UK economy.
“The Government needs to urgently rethink this decision.”
Many workplaces have been supported by the projects, including thousands threatened by redundancy.
An independent valuation by the Universities of Exeter and Leeds on the Union Learning Fund found that for every £1 invested produced a return £12.30 to the economy (£4.70 to the employer and £7.60 to the individual).
The letter states: “Speaking on behalf of the whole sector we would urge you to reconsider the decision to remove funding for ULF and unionlearn. In the manufacturing sector, this will lead to a reduction in support for workers and employers who are doing their utmost to upskill and retrain in these very challenging times.”
Other signatories to the letter are:
- Stephen Phipson – CEO of Make UK,
- Iain Wright CBE – CEO of the Food & Drink Federation,
- Dr Laura Cohen MBE – CEO of the British Ceramic Federation,
- Justine Fosh – CEO of Cogent Skills,
- James Selka – CEO of The Manufacturing Technologies Association,
- Dick Elsy CBE- CEO of the HVM Catapult.
Challenge and Opportunity – Sector Connector Enginuity Helps Build Back Better
There was much for engineering and manufacturing businesses to cheer in today’s Budget – and it provides a strong foundation on which the sector can start to build for a green, high-tech post-pandemic future.
Chancellor Urged to Keep Engineering Budget
The 200,000 self-employed working in the manufacturing sector are crucial to the post pandemic recovery and must not be cast adrift in the forthcoming budget
National Apprenticeship Week 2021
The annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships, taking place across England between 8th - 14th February, will showcase how apprenticeships have helped employers and people of all ages and backgrounds. Enginuity are taking an active part in the week, promoting new content each day. Make sure to follow us and check back for updates throughout the event.