Skills Accounts trial grows
The East Midlands trial of the Skills Account, an online record of a learner's entitlements and achievements, has expanded from eight providers to 30 now offering the accounts in the region.
Skills Accounts will empower all adults to choose the learning route that’s best for them and put people in control of the public funding available to support their learning and skills development. They will also act as an individual record of achievement.
A new website at www.direct.gov.uk/skillsaccounts provides the following services:
- Careers support – access to impartial careers advice to help make informed choices;
- My Skills needs – identify skills and match them to possible job roles;
- Find a course – choose the right course;
- Funding for learning – find out about what funding is available
- How to enrol – different ways to enrol;
- My achievements – create an action plan based on skills and achievements; make an appointment with a trained careers adviser;
- Investment in me – track how much money you and the Government have spent on your learning.
Learners from Leicester College have been helping to test the new website. Mia Bellamy, who is taking an Access to Higher Education course in, Nursing and Midwifery said: "I like the fact that you can use a key word and postcode to see what’s available in your area. If you had not yet gone on a course or if it was the first few weeks of an access course this could help to find links to the next course. It would give an idea of how to study further or get a job."
Further trials are taking place in other regions. Skills Accounts trials in the West Midlands are being run in conjunction with the Integrated Employment and Skills trials and have been operational since February 2009. Both nextstep and Employment Skills and Productivity Partnership (ESP) providers have been supporting customers to open Skills Accounts if they have been referred by Jobcentre Plus. The accounts have been well received, especially by ESP providers, who have embedded the accounts into their learning programmes. Individuals have been able to benefit from the skills and interests assessment and job profiles in particular.