Funding available for workplace training in maths and English

Nick Elvin

Businesses are being offered funding for staff to receive training in two of the most important workplace skills: maths and English.

Through its scheme, For Business For Life, The National Consortium of Colleges and Providers (NCCP) hopes employers will benefit from the advantages improved numeracy and literacy brings, such as acquiring more confident and ambitious workers.

All firms, from start-ups to FTSE100 companies, can apply to receive funding, which will cover the full cost of the training, although the money is only available for a year and awarded subject to assessment.

In recent months many employers have been voicing concerns over a skills shortage among workers. And according to the NCCP, businesses in every sector of the British economy are suffering as a result of everyday errors and reputational damage caused by workers with sub-standard literacy and numeracy.

This could be a multiplication error that affects a month’s sales figures, or a recruitment advertisement seen by thousands of potential customers which contains incorrect grammar or spelling.

NCCP chairman, Harvey Young said: “It’s fantastic there’s so much government and media focus on apprenticeships, which are about getting young people into work. But we want to see more attention given to those already in employment who may not be work ready, and whose lack of confidence in the key areas of English and maths is holding them – and their employers – back.

“As providers, we have seen first hand the transformative effect of improved basic skills on employees of all ages. Some may have slipped through the net at school, but so many have simply forgotten what they have learnt.

“Our experience is that the vast majority of those in the workplace benefit from basic skills training – not just those who are aware that their English and maths are not up to scratch.”

The training is fully funded via the EU’s European Social Fund. For small and medium-sized businesses, there is a cash incentive, with SMEs receiving £800 per learner for the first three people who complete basic skills English or maths training – £400 at the start and £400 when completed.