In September we reported that the Department for Education and Employment is to establish a central unit to provide a contracting service to large employers and to organisations delivering training provision on behalf of large employers. The unit has now been re-named the National Contracting Unit, and it will act as an intermediary to establish training contracts between employers and providers.

The new unit will work with large public sector organisations and those with over 500 staff in an LSC area. It will also liaise with the training providers organisations already use, and providers who have been established by employers and/or trade unions to provide a service to a specific industry sector.

The DfEE also says that part of the unit's role will be assist employers to use LSC 'products' such as Modern Apprenticeships and to provide help with the delivery of work-based training for young people and other learning or workforce development programmes.

To read the full update on the progress of the unit, visit