This
week’s training news
Skills council calls for more initiatives
for mothers
More
initiatives to encourage women with children under five years in to learning and back to work are
needed, according to research by Brunel
University.
The study, carried out on behalf of the London West Learning and Skills
Council, showed that while women are motivated to study or return to work for
professional and personal reasons, childcare concerns and a lack of confidence
in their ability are preventing them from doing so. The study said that if such
factors continue it could hinder women’s lifetime earning capacity, overall
skills development and the skills available to the economy. The study concluded
that a solution may involve encouraging mothers and children to participate in
family learning sessions and the provision of suitable, subsidised childcare
facilities. www.londonwest.org
Training providers join forces to attract
foreigners
A
partnership between four North East training providers is set to attract new
overseas business into the region and allow international students to tap into
the region’s training expertise. South West Durham Training, Roxby Training, TWI (The Welding
Institute) and Stockton Riverside
College are launching their training
services into international waters through the new International Training
Partnership (ITP). The main aim of ITP is to increase the provision and breadth
of training available to international students visiting the UK,
allowing them to get hands-on experience in areas such as machining,
maintenance, non-destructive testing, hydraulics and pneumatics. They will also
be able to gain competence-based qualifications. www.internationaltrainingpartnership.com
Union accuses private sector of de-skilling
The
reliance on private contractors in construction has "completely
devastated" training in the industry, according to the Transport &
General Workers’ union (T&G). Speaking in the public services debate at the
Labour Party conference, T&G member Jacky Clarke, who works as a carpenter
for an East London Council, said the increased use of the private sector in
construction had led to a dramatic rise in the use of cheap unskilled labour.
"The major private contractors do not employ craft workers. They have
pushed the responsibility on to sub-contractors, who in turn use self-employed
workers and often don’t directly employ anyone," she said. www.tgwu.org.uk
Honda Institute launches marine
apprenticeship
The
Honda Institute is launching a course to promote skills in the marine industry.
The Honda Marine Apprenticeship Programme will follow the successful business
model that has recruited more than 300 service and parts apprentices to Honda’s
car and motorcycle dealer networks. It will enable Honda Marine dealers to
fast-track new recruits into their workshops and provide a much-needed platform
for a new generation of skilled technicians in the industry. Up to 12 places
are available for the first intake, scheduled to start early next year. The
course comprises 13, one-week blocks over a two-year
period. Nine blocks will be spent at The Honda Institute, and four in an
Innovative Technologies in Education training facility, where candidates will
make use of the specialist boat-building and marine propulsion knowledge and
equipment. www.honda.co.uk
