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£2.4m Government investment in key industries

The Skills Minister has announced that funds of over £2.4 million from the Growth Innovation Fund (GIF) will be dedicated to the nuclear, creative and cultural sectors.

The Fund was established to help employers to overcome growth barriers within their sectors. The Government has already committed more than £15 million to boosting innovation and productivity, enabling industries to set new professional standards and support new or extended national skills academies.

The National Skills Academy for Nuclear Manufacturing is set to receive a Government investment of over £920,000 which will help it expand its activities into nuclear manufacturing, and will help UK manufacturers take advantage of the new nuclear build programme.

It will also collaborate with SEMTA and the Sheffield-based Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre to create a focal point to boost companies’ capability to develop skills.

During the first three years, the expansion aims to deliver a more skilled workforce, with an increase of 3,500 learners taking up programmes, including more than 500 apprenticeships.

Skills Minister John Hayes said: “It is businesses themselves that are best-placed to identify the skills they need to drive growth.

“The new centre for excellence for nuclear manufacturing will increase the number of opportunities for technicians and skilled workers and ensure that UK firms can source the skills they need to grow their market share in an expanding market.

The National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural will receive around £1.5 million. This will enable it to expand and open up opportunities for more than 1,200 new apprenticeships and craft training for young people across the jewellery, design and cultural heritage sectors.

The NSA Creative and Cultural also plans to reach around 1.2 million young people through their careers information, advice and guidance material over the next 5 years. It will work with a number of leading organisations and employers, for example the Goldsmiths’ Company, Holts Academy and the British Jewellers’ Association.

He added: “The National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural has already demonstrated its success in working with more than 200 employers in the theatre and live entertainment business.

“I am delighted that investment will allow them to increase opportunities in the design, cultural heritage and jewellery sectors.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .