The government has approved the launch of a national skills academy for food and drink manufacturing.
The academy will open in April 2007 to provide vocational education and training for about 28,000 employees during its first four years.
It is a joint venture between Improve (the sector skills council for the food and drink sector) and the Learning and Skills Council.
The training will be delivered through a network of approved training centres, each contributing according to its specialist area of expertise.
Skills minister Phil Hope said: “It is vital that we continue to improve our capacity for learning by driving up skills levels in our home industries if we are to compete successfully in the global market.”
The government aims to have up to 12 academies for different industries operational by 2008. It is investing £90m in the programme, which will be delivered through the Learning and Skills Council, working with employers and their sector skills councils.
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Skills academies for the construction, financial services and manufacturing industries have already been approved.
Bids to develop skills academies have been accepted from the nuclear, chemical, hospitality and creative and cultural industries.
