Enhanced Leadership and Management Skills (ELMS) programme.
The Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills for Wales, has announced that £28 million is to be invested in the Welsh economy through the Enhanced Leadership and Management Skills (ELMS) programme.
This is the largest high-level business skills programme of its kind to be launched in Wales. Training providers will be contracted by the Assembly Government to deliver high-level strategic training to more than 23,000 people working in Welsh industries. The programme is part funded with employer contribution expected to increase the total overall value of the project.
Organisations that wish to choose their own leadership and management Providers and delivery methods should make applications for discretionary funding under the Workforce Development Programme. Approximately £16 million of funding has been allocated for this. ILM Centres therefore can apply directly to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) for a contract to deliver or alternatively can be recommended via a business application request.
The ELMS programme includes a fund for Sector Skills Councils to develop their own solutions. It also incorporates the Centre for Leadership and Management which aims to make a case for businesses to invest in leadership skills such as coaching and mentoring.
For more information visit www.wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills
Learner Provision
Learner Provision (LP) funds learning delivered by training providers and colleges. Funding is calculated through Credit Equivalent Units (CEU), where every course is allocated a basic credit value based on the time required to deliver it successfully. A list of the CEU values for each course is published by the Assembly.
More information on Learner Provision
Workforce Development
There are also several streams of funding to support employers seeking to upskill their workforce in the current economic climate. The two primary streams are ReAct and ProAct.
ReAct supports businesses in Wales to employ workers who have been made redundant. More information on ReAct
ProAct supports businesses hit by the downturn to fund training for staff to boost performance and productivity. More information on ProAct
Further information
More information on the support available for employers is provided on the Welsh Assembly Government website. To find out if you are eligible, contact the Skills People Success team: tel: 0845 60 661 60 or email info@skillspeoplesuccess.com.
Additional information and guidance
The SkillsPeopleSuccess team also publishes three guides for businesses outlining the funding support that is available:
First Timers – Advice for small businesses who are new to training, including a Free Skills Review, provided by an Assembly registered advisor.
Fast Trackers - Advice for small businesses looking to improve training effectiveness.
People Professionals for larger organisations seeking skills excellence.
Leadership and Management Workshops
The Assembly subsidises a series of leadership and management workshops to help managers improve their skills. These workshops are targeted at businesses employing fewer than 250 people and are subsidized up to 70%. Each workshop concentrates on a specific aspect of management.
More information on Leadership and Management Workshops
European funding
The Welsh European Funding office (WEFO) is part of the Welsh Assembly Government and manages the delivery of the EU Structural Funds programmes in Wales.
For enquiries on the European Structural Funds in Wales contact the WEFO Helpline: tel 0845 010 3355, email enquiries-wefo@wales.gsi.gov.uk or visit http://www.wefo.wales.gov.uk/.