Training scheme gains 100,000th company

A government scheme set up to encourage businesses to develop their employees' skills has signed up its 100,000th company.

Set up two years ago, Train to Gain has led to 291,000 workers obtaining qualifications and has helped 570,000 undertake some form of training.

Retail chain B and Q is the newest participant to the scheme, which includes a number of companies which employ people in sales jobs.

More than two-fifths of those who have participated in training offered as part of the scheme have reported receiving a pay rise, with 30 per cent getting a promotion.

Parliamentary under-secretary of state for the department for innovation, universities and skills Lord Young claims employers need to make full use of their staff by gaining from the funding and training available through the scheme.

"Successful employers see up-skilling the workforce as one of the most powerful things they can do to drive their businesses forward," he says.

The companies who have signed up to Train to Gain will be better positioned to react to economic challenges and will "take advantage of the opportunities in the next period of growth".

According to the scheme, nearly three-quarters of employers using Train to Gain have seen improvements to job-related skill levels.

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Filed: 09-10-2008