This week’s training news
House building go-ahead
The Construction Industry Training Board has launched a new national
training programme for non-traditional house building. The pilot scheme will
provide access to training for a wide range of house building and manufacturing
systems in one centre. The programme will be based at the National Construction
College in Norfolk and will enable generic skills to be taught using new
technology available in the sector. The CITB is expecting to take around 1,000
candidates for the pilot period, depending on demand. www.citb.co.uk
Virtual financial advice
Independent financial advisers are now able to make use of a virtual
learning centre, after a successful three-month trial. Norwich Union launched
the website, which contains a range of interactive training material as well as
support for advanced professional qualifications. Topics covered include
taxation, trusts, personal investment planning, retirement planning and
pensions. www.norwich-union.co.uk/ifa
Teacher training at high
The number of people training to become a teacher is now at a seven-year
high. Agency figures show that almost 29,000 people started PGCE and BEd
courses this year. The Government has also announced that training bursaries
for primary postgraduate trainees will be extended for another year, to cover
those starting in 2002/03. Secondary teacher training is up 9 per cent overall
and primary training has met intake targets.
www.dfes.gov.uk
Bank’s euro scheme
The Bank of Ireland has used a custom made e-learning system to train over
5,000 staff to handle the euro. The program, provided by Educational Multimedia
Corporation, was delivered via the company’s existing IT networks. The course
contained three hours of learning and was divided into specific modules
including management, customer services, cashier and foreign exchange. It
contained various levels of completion allowing the training department to
evaluate progress and measure success. www.educationalmultimedia.com
Foundation places filled
The latest figures show foundation courses, designed in partnership between
the Government and the private sector, have had a high take-up. Most available
places on the courses, which were launched to help combat the skills shortage,
have been filled. More than 80 per cent of the 2,123 places on the 40 prototype
courses have been taken. Foundation courses take two years and are work-based,
higher education courses. www.dfes.gov.uk
Money laundering attack
The British Bankers’ Association has launched the first module of its online
training designed to combat money laundering. The joint e-learning scheme
between the BBA and Absolutely Training will provide a package of learning to
help the financial services industry. The project will eventually offer a whole
range of training to the banking, legal, accountancy and insurance sectors. The
package includes self-assessment and will support a formal exam for money
laundering officers. www.bba.org.uk
