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Leadership and management training to help third sector boost leadership skills

9 December 2008

Third Sector organisations will get extra help to keep them training, ensuring they get the best performance from staff during challenging economic times.

Skills Minister Lord Young today announced that they will be eligible for an extended leadership and management programme through Train to Gain, the government’s flagship skills service.

From January 2009, funding rules will be relaxed so that third sector employees will also be able to access more flexible training support, delivered when and where they need it, including:

• Stand-alone accredited training modules and part-qualifications in essential areas like business systems, communications, sales and marketing, information technology, customer service, new product design, finance and credit, cash flow and profit management, and risk management;
• Fully funded Level 2 qualifications and subsidised level 3 qualifications, regardless of whether the employee already has a qualification at this level.

This builds on the current Train to Gain offer which offers all third sector organisations support for training to GCSE and A level equivalent, but does not currently include the above flexibilities.

Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector, said:

"This is another important step in creating the environment for a thriving third sector. To do the best for their beneficiaries, charities and other third sector organisations need the same high skill levels as businesses. I have no doubt that the sector will take full advantage of this new opportunity to access leadership and management training. It is vital that the third sector has access to support like this, particularly as it takes on the demands of economic downturn."

Lord Young said:

“Third sector organisations play a vital role at the heart of communities. It is right that those who work for them have the opportunity to gain the skills they need to develop successful and rewarding careers.

“These further improvements to Train to Gain mean that those in most need of support can develop the skills they need to get on, ensuring that the sector is well placed to weather tough times and to continue their valuable work for the community.”

• Train to Gain [external website]