Innovative new models to help small businesses take on greater numbers of apprentices are being launched today by Apprenticeship Minister Kevin Brennan.

Twelve organisations have won a share of £7m of Government funding to set up new Apprenticeship Training Associations (ATAs) and Group Training Associations (GTAs). The new models will help a range of organisations, especially small businesses, to offer over 14,000 apprenticeship places for young people over the next three years, with a focus on opportunities for 16 to 18-year-olds. The apprenticeships will be offered in industries vital for the country’s economic growth, including environmental, creative, engineering, manufacturing, logistics and business administration.

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Nearly six million adults across England have been helped to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, with over 2.8 million achieving a qualification since the foundations of a basic skills strategy were laid ten years ago, and the Government’s Skills for Life strategy was introduced in 2001.

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Four Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) have been relicensed, Business, Innovation and Skills Secretary Lord Mandelson announced today, on behalf of the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations.
Sector Skills Councils are employer-led bodies, established to enable employers to exert influence on the UK’s education and skills systems to ensure they meet their needs.

All four have been successful in their application for a further trademark licence to operate as SSCs and have gone through a comprehensive assessment process led by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.

The successful SSCs are:

Skills for Health (health);

SkillsActive (active leisure and learning);

Improve Ltd (food and drink manufacturing and processing);

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National Apprenticeship Week will take place from Monday 1 February to Friday 5 February 2010. The Week, which is organised by the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), will celebrate the talents and skills of apprentices. It will see apprentices, employers and all involved with Apprenticeship programmes come together to celebrate the value apprentices bring.

National and regional activities will be taking place during the Week and each day will have a different focus. Anyone involved with Apprenticeships is invited to take part and if you’re already planning activity, then NAS would like to hear from you.

Following the success of Apprenticeship Week 2009, activities this year will include employer events, job swaps, breakfast briefings and apprentice challenges.The Week will highlight the advantages of employing and supporting apprentices in the workplace, as well as demonstrate the wide range of Apprenticeships available.

To find out more about Apprenticeships click here.

Article from the BIS FE & Skills Newsletter