Budget Help for Training

Sir

The increase in corporation tax for small businesses has been met with some concern by the glass industry, which has a large number of SMEs.

More than ever before, it’s critical that employees have the right skills for companies to be competitive, profitable and sustainable. And this is where the Budget Report can be welcomed.

The Chancellor announced that small companies which take on an employee needing to acquire the most basic of skills will, in the period from now to 2011, receive at least £2,000 training help per employee. In addition, education spending will rise by 5 per cent each year for the next three years, which will double apprenticeship numbers to 500,000.

In developing Sector Skills Agreements, Proskills (the Sector Skills Council for the industry) has spoken to over 200 glass employers. Many have expressed their concerns about the growing need for multi-skilling amongst staff and about their ageing workforce.

320 apprentices successfully completed their apprenticeship in 2006. Whilst their success should be applauded, it is still only a tiny fraction of the total glass workforce and more needs to be done to ensure essential skills are not lost as people leave and retire from the industry.

Extra spending in this area is welcome, but it is now important that the recent Leitch recommendations are implemented in full. Our team is working with the glass sector to develop a clear and employer-led system that supports the needs of business and lifelong learning among employees.

Terry Watts, chief executive, Proskills.

---