To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what direct access to training schemes is available to car component firms. (253816)

Businesses in the automotive industry can access:

The core Train to Gain offer:

Full funding for:

Literacy and numeracy support at all levels;

First full level 2 qualifications (equivalent to five GCSEs(;

First full level 3 (equivalent to 2 A-levels) for 19-25 year olds and for people without a first level 2;

First level 4 for 19-25 year olds who do not already have a level 3;

Repeat level 2 qualifications in certain sector specific areas, through the sector compact.

Shared investment between the employer and Government for:

English for Speakers of Other Languages qualifications at all levels;

Level 3 qualifications in certain sector specific areas, through the sector compact;

Apprenticeships.

In addition to quality-assured, impartial and independent advice from skills brokers which is available to those businesses who want help to identify skills needs at all levels, and to identify and source high quality, vocational skills training.

The SME flexibilities:

A new package of support to help the employees of small and medium sized businesses in the private and third sector:

Fully funded level 2 qualifications and subsidised level 3 qualifications, regardless of whether the employee already has a qualification at this level;

Bite sized courses in subjects demanded by businesses including: business improvement, business systems and processes, team working and communications, sales and marketing, IT User, IT support, customer service, new product design, finance and credit, cash flow and profit management, and risk management;

Funding for leadership and management training for businesses with five to 250 employees.

Pre-employment/redundancy flexibility:

Those who have been given notice of redundancy or who are coming back into work after unemployment can access full funding for level 2 qualifications and part funding for level 3 qualifications, regardless of whether they already have a qualification at this level, and irrespective of the size of employer they join. This is part of a wider Government package to help those made redundant during the economic downturn.

Both the SME and the pre-employment/redundancy flexibilities have been available since 2 January 2009.

To support the industry further we have agreed to boost the funding available through the sector compact from £65 million to £100 million. We will work with the sector to ensure this additional resource meets employers' priority skill needs.