Funds allocated for skills training

16 June 2011

The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Philip Ozouf, has allocated £2.2 million of the remaining fiscal stimulus funds to sustain skills and training projects for another year.

Senator Ozouf has extended the timeframe for Fiscal Stimulus allocations to fund the Skills and Training programmes until August 2012. After consulting the Corporate Affairs Scrutiny Panel, the Minister has granted £2.2 million for this purpose. 

Senator Ozouf said “While there is growing evidence of economic recovery, particularly in Financial Services, we need to continue to do everything possible to support all job seekers, especially young people entering the job market at a very difficult time.

Fiscal stimulus

"In the 2 years since it was set up, the Fiscal Stimulus Programme has provided £43.7 million for a variety of projects that have supported Islanders through the economic downturn. This money has directly helped individuals, provided extra skills and training for job seekers and boosted business.

One area that has been particularly successful is the support for individuals through skills training. Advance to Work has, so far, helped 285 people aged 16-19 years old into meaningful training and work placements with 200 companies. 116 of those young job seekers have found employment since participating in the course.

Advance Plus

"Increasing the budget for Highlands College has enabled 313 more school leavers to stay on in education, helping them to develop their skills and prepare for the job market. And Advance Plus has been focusing on people 20 years and older, helping them to retrain and build skills and confidence, while also gaining work experience.

"Continuing funding for these schemes would have fallen outside the 'timely' criteria for approval of funding by the Fiscal Stimulus Steering Group which advises me. However, I believe this is a wise and effective use of resources, which will help to limit unemployment and provide a much-needed boost for young people starting out in their working life."