SMEs lacking awareness of training opportunities

09:35 21st April 2009

Awareness of available skills training courses differs greatly in the UK, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to Working Links.

The organisation, which helps people struggling with unemployment, has called for training to be marketed directly at SMEs in order for employers to become aware of them and boost their employees' skill sets.

This could include computer training or IT courses.

Londoners are to benefit from nearly £27 million in additional training funds, while the 'Leitch Review of Skills, Prosperity for all in the global economy - world class skills' has called for an extra 500,000 apprenticeship placements to be created.

Will Cookson, head of skills at Working Links, said: "The awareness [of training opportunities] within employers varies greatly. A large employer will be more aware of what they can do themselves and where they might be able to get assistance."

He added that SMEs tend to be primarily concerned with simply staying in business, especially in the current economic climate.

Over 187,000 adults gained qualifications in 2007/08 through the Train to Gain programme, according to figures from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.