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Training

Answer

The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), and the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), have asked their officials to work together with the sector and key delivery partners, such as UK Trade & Investment, to support the train manufacturing sector and the wider rail supply chain in securing more sustainable UK jobs through clearly identified business opportunities such as the Intercity Express Programme, Thameslink, Crossrail and High Speed 2.The Technology Strategy Board recently announced a £4 million Accelerating Innovation in Rail funding competition to support the development of technologies that are able to address the challenges facing the rail industry, as well as meeting customer requirements in both UK and international rail markets. It marks the start of a long-term strategic partnership between the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and the Technology Strategy Board.Additionally the Department's Solution's for Business offers a range of publically-funded products and services designed to help businesses to overcome key challenges and UK Trade & Investment explore export opportunities.Furthermore, on 14 October, we also announced details of the new £57 million contract to deliver the Manufacturing Advisory Service which works with manufacturers to identify and implement productivity and innovation improvements to improve their competitiveness. It will be a national service locally delivered and tailored to meet the needs of individual businesses and local economic circumstances. The new service will focus on helping small and medium enterprise (SME) manufacturers in England to develop advanced manufacturing capabilities and could help create an estimated £1.5 billion in economic growth, 23,000 jobs and safeguard 50,000 over three years. It will start in January 2012.In order to boost technical and vocational skills for the engineering sector at all levels we are (i) doubling to 24 the number of university technical colleges we will establish by 2014; (ii) investing an extra £180 million to deliver at least 250,000 more apprenticeships over the next four years than the previous Government planned; and (iii) encouraging the development of new degree-equivalent higher level apprenticeships, which will include recognised engineering status.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

75235; 535 c802-3W

Session

2010-12

Subjects

Engineering Manufacturing industries Railways Skilled workers

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk