UK Training Industry Press Releases

The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) has welcomed the Government's move to repackage £350m of its Train to Gain funding to focus on staff development within SMEs. ILM believes that it will open up opportunities for more employees to access leadership and management training and so improve business efficiency across the UK.

The announcement made by Skills Secretary John Denham this week indicates that the Government has responded to employers' demands, particularly those from small business owners, for shorter qualifications.

Penny de Valk, ILM's Chief Executive, said:

"This is an extremely welcome development for our members and ILM centres, one which will allow employers and learners to access funding more easily and will ultimately improve the quality and efficiency of hundreds of smaller businesses.  With the UK teetering on the bring of recession, the funding is a timely boost for SMEs; helping them to drive up critical leadership and management skills that will improve efficiency and performance in this challenging economic climate."

ILM believes that the new system will allow for short development programmes and individual units, such as its Awards for Team Leaders and First Line Managers, to be funded rather than longer, more time consuming qualifications.