Senior managers in UK businesses are missing out on training funded by the government because they wrongly think it’s only for “lower level staff”, according to a management development specialist.

But actually the Train to Gain scheme is open to senior staff as well, with grants available of up to £1,000 per person.



It was recently reported that only 3% of the £797m Train to Gain budget was spent on developing managers in 2008-09, despite there being four million managers in the UK.


Management development expert Mark Jacobs of The Mdina Partnership recommends that  business leaders explore the possibilities of Train to Gain.

He said: “There is a perception among some senior managers that Train to Gain can only be used by employees who need to sharpen up their admin skills, for example.
But the beauty of the scheme is that it can be used to fund virtually any commercially-available training approved by the government. 



“That means that experienced senior staff can subsidise the cost of high level management development and training programmes.”



Train to Gain was set up as a national skills service where employers and the government jointly fund training to increase people’s work skills.
 Business brokers advise businesses on the training needs of their staff; help them find suitable training providers; then advise on funding options. 

Typically businesses need to put some money into training which is subsidised by the scheme.

Find out more at www.traintogain.gov.uk