A training company has written to the Skills Funding Agency to express its concerns about the changes to ways qualifications are funded, coming in August.
Security and Facilities Education Ltd (SAFE Training) says that the changes will significantly affect funding generated by some individual qualifications compared to the current academic year. For example, the Level 2 Certificate in Providing Security Services generates a base value of £1,121 for a fully-funded learner when delivered under Workplace Learning. From August, this reduces to £724 as the qualification has been placed in a lower financial band. Reductions are also applied to team leadership and business administration qualifications. The Skills Funding Agency have stated their intent to provide some transitional financial protection to prime contractors for 2014, but it is not certain whether this will be passed on to training providers. Gary Scruby, Managing Director of SAFE said: “The proposed funding arrangements are likely to significantly reduce the uptake of the ‘providing security services’ certificate in the sector. We have already seen reductions in funding for large employers for all but apprenticeship programmes this past year and the new proposals could now impact upon the SME community. It is clear that greater demands are being placed on our industry at a challenging time, if investment in training is to be maintained.” That said, he adds that funding for apprenticeships from August has remained the same and the NVQ certificate in spectator safety is worth nearly £300 more than this year. Gary Scruby was formerly employed by Tenon Education Training and Skills advising on and auditing publicly funded provision.
SAFE is providing free advice to companies in the security and facilities industries on the changes to funding and the impact it will have. If you are interested – contact 01952585387 or [email protected].
