HC Deb 22 November 1995 vol 267 cc207-8W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the firms which were awarded the small firms training challenge; and how much they were awarded. [944]

Mr. Page

The panel has selected 14 innovative projects, featuring almost 180 small firms, as award winners of the first stage of bids for the skills challenge, jointly funded by DTI and DFEE. The partnerships are as follows:

  • 3D Design—Marine Technology. Sponsored by Tyneside TEC
  • Press and Mould Toolmaking. Sponsored by Lancashire Area West TEC (LAWTEC)
  • "Office Team". Sponsored by Coventry and Warwickshire TEC
  • "Makeover". 10 Ethnic Minority and Indigenous Independent Retailers. Sponsored by Hertfordshire TEC
  • Lincolnshire Trainers' Network. Sponsored by Lincolnshire TEC
  • "Micro-Business". Sponsored by London East TEC
  • Clothing Companies. Sponsored by North London TEC
  • Southampton Area Co-operative Development Agency (SACDA). Sponsored by Hampshire TEC
  • "Forging Ahead". Sponsored by Milton Keynes and North Bucks Chamber of Commerce Training and Enterprise.
  • "Schematic". Sponsored by Devon and Cornwall TEC

Four sector bids have also received awards. These are:

  • Engineering Training Authority (ENTRA) (Supplier Chain Performance)
  • The Confederation of British Wool Textiles
  • The Academy of Food and Wine
  • Seafish Training

Projects will receive an average award of around £50,000. Contracts are currently being negotiated with the winning partnerships.