Training boss says skills boost needed now – not 2025
The head of one of the Midlands’ largest training organisations has called on the Government to speed up plans to enhance and support skills development.
Chris Luty, managing director of Oldbury-based BCTG, said: “We broadly welcome the Government’s commitment to lifetime skills and a lifetime loan entitlement – but this needs to happen more quickly, not from 2025 as proposed.
“It is essential that employers are central to local planning for skills, but there needs to be sufficient flexibility in what and how government funds this to ensure we see real benefits on the shop floor.”
He added that as well as focussing on colleges, the Government should notignore the key role that Independent Training Providers (ITPs) play in delivering high quality, highly flexible workplace skills.
“Already ITPs deliver the majority of apprenticeships as well as a range of adult education training, so are well placed to support this major government policy,” he said.
BCTG Group supports almost 10,000 young people and adults each year.
The group has 10 sites in the Black Country, Birmingham, Staffordshire and Newcastle-under-Lyme, and includes PTP Training, trading as Performance Through People, BCTG Ltd, Eurosource Solutions, Further Training and The Apprenticeship Works.
The group offers 166 different types of apprenticeship, 84 different adult upskilling and reskilling courses and 27 pre-apprenticeship programmes for 16 to 18-year-olds.
These include everything from healthcare and early years care to construction, engineering, manufacturing and logistics, through to business skills in IT, management and team leading.
