§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to what extent the University for Industry will be concerned with the provision of basic skills training to the New Deal target groups. [45505]
§ Dr. HowellsOne of the priorities for the University for Industry when it is launched in the year 2000 will be to ensure that there are sufficient high quality and easily accessible learning opportunities for people who lack basic skills. It will also encourage those lacking these essential skills to take up the opportunities available. However, the University for Industry will not be aimed only at those in the New Deal target groups: it will seek to serve a much wider audience. The Department will be exploring in the coming period how the University for Industry and New Deal might work together to ensure that the two initiatives best complement each other.
§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how the University for Industry will benefit small and medium-size enterprises; and what steps he plans to take to raise awareness of these benefits. [45506]
§ Dr. HowellsThe small and medium-size business sector will be one of the priority client groups for the University for Industry when it is launched in the year 2000. The University for Industry Pathfinder Prospectus published on 31 March set out how it will seek to help SMEs improve their competitiveness by ensuring that high quality, cost effective education and training opportunities are available to owner managers and employees at the time and place they need them.
A transition board has been established to take forward the development of the University for Industry until permanent structures are set in place later this year. As 149W part of their remit they will be advising Ministers on an appropriate marketing strategy. This will inform the implementation of a national marketing campaign.