L&D professionals split over Train to Gain cuts

13 Aug 2010

by: Margaret Snell

The UK learning & development (L&D) community is split over the Government’s plan to cut £200 million from the Train to Gain scheme and use £150 million of this to create 50,000 extra apprenticeships, according to a survey carried out by the World of Learning Conference & Exhibition.

While 48.4 % disagree with the government cutbacks because they think that both Train to Gain and apprenticeships are very important and both need substantial investment, a further 2.5% also disagree, but instead believe that Train to Gain is a more important programme than creating more apprenticeships and that investment levels in Train to Gain should be maintained.

On the other hand a significant proportion of the community agrees with the Government’s policy. 38.5% of respondents agree with the cuts because they think that the Train to Gain scheme is not sufficiently effective to be continued at its previous scale.

A further 8.1% said that they have seen no tangible benefit from Train to Gain and it should be scrapped entirely. A small percentage (2.5%) said they saw no tangible benefits from either programme and felt that funds could be better spent elsewhere.

Andrew Gee, senior project manager for the World of Learning Conference & Exhibition, commented: “The Government has clearly divided the learning & development community on this issue, as more than half – 50.9% altogether – disagree with its cuts. Yet, with almost half also dissatisfied with Train to Gain as it is and agreeing with the plans to change it, the industry is split almost down the middle. This suggests that there may be some interesting debates in the near future about the implementation of these changes.”

 

 

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