The government is launching gift vouchers towards the cost of Further Education (FE) courses.
The pilot project, in nine colleges across England, will promote FE courses as the perfect gift for people to give to friends and family, to help loved ones learn brand new skills.
The trial comes as ICM research, commissioned by Department for Innovation Universities and Skills (DIUS), shows that over half (56%) of people would like to receive a gift voucher for a training course as a present.
Launching the pilot at the College of North East London (CoNEL), David Lammy, Minister for Skills, said: “The Perfect Gift pilot is a superb example of the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that runs through the FE sector. Enabling people to purchase vouchers for courses is a simple but effective way to make learning, and the benefits of learning, even more accessible to everyone.”
The Gift Vouchers can be used to enrol on a variety of courses available at participating colleges and are redeemable during the 2007-2008 academic year. Each Gift Voucher has a value of £50 and may cover the full course cost or a contribution towards it.
In addition to CoNEL, DIUS and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) are working with Chichester College, New College Nottingham, Blackpool & Fylde College, Gateshead College, York College, West Hertfordshire College, Filton College (Bristol) and Warwickshire College.
The Perfect Gift pilot has been developed as part of the LSC's Skills Campaign Our future. It's in our hands.
