TRAINING and Enterprise Councils throughout the UK are about to undergo a series of changes over the next 12 months and develop into new bodies entitled Learning and Skills Councils (LSCs).

I am being asked increasingly what will be the main differences and what impact will this have on current arrangements for work-based training.

The simple answer is that LSC's will cover a much larger area than TECs. For example, this may result in only two LSCs for Cheshire and Merseyside.

But at the heart of this change are the needs of the labour market, particularly in the area of further education and work based skills.

A Government directive has stated that LSCs will be expected to negotiate the budgets and plans for individual FE colleges and play a leading role in determining which FE courses will be funded and in what volume.

This should give employers a better opportunity to have a bigger say in what FE colleges should be doing for work-based training and therefore tailor their activity to these needs.

I would urge you therefore to be positive in two ways. Firstly, participate fully in the surveys as they really do provide the sort of information that can change things for the better.

The more who take part, the more credibility the surveys have.

Secondly, contact me directly for information about how you can influence positively the development of the Learning and Skills Council in your part of Cheshire.

I would be pleased to hear from you. Please ring me on 01928 599104

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