After a pilot which helped 22,000 people, the Government’s new £1 billion national training programme Train to Gain is now gearing up to go national.

And the estimates are that it will boost the skills of 350,000 employees working for 50,000 organisations every year.

As well as boosting productivity and competitiveness, Train to Gain also aims to improve life skills chances for the low-skilled.

Train to Gain is managed and delivered by the Learning and Skills Council and provides employers with access to a free skills broker service, which offers independent and practical advice to match training needs with providers.

Secretary of State for Education and Skills Alan Johnson said: “Train to Gain puts employers at the heart of the drive to close skills gaps and boost productivity.

“Training providers will ensure that top quality training is adapted to the needs of employers and their staff and is delivered in a targeted and flexible way within the workplace, from basic reading and maths up to key technician level and beyond.

“Education does not and should not stop when people leave school or college – people must be able to tap into education throughout life, whether it is academic, trade, basic or vocational.”

For further information go to: http://www.traintogain.gov.uk/index.html