Employers in the housing, facilities management, fashion and textiles sectors are to benefit from a £93m government investment in training.
New skills minister Lord Young said the money would be earmarked to tackle current and future skills shortages within these sectors – £69m to help the property, housing, cleaning and facilities management sectors and £24.5m to help the fashion and textiles industries.
The funding is designed to enable employers to improve the qualifications and skills of their current workforces, offer greater numbers of apprenticeships and train new recruits.
The deal is the latest in a series of agreements that will channel millions of pounds into training initiatives in specific sectors.
Lord Young said: “Industries such as fashion and textiles, housing and facilities management make an important and valued contribution to our national life. Now, more than ever, the success of our country will depend on doing even more to increase people’s skills and their ability to gain jobs.”
In return for this funding, the relevant Sector Skills Councils will encourage employers to take advantage of government initiatives such as Train to Gain, to sign the Skills Pledge, and to offer more apprenticeships.
Further agreements are expected to be announced by the government in the coming weeks.
