News and features

Mon, 8 Dec 2008

Business help announced by government

Small businesses could improve their chances of survival in a recession by training staff using government money, the skills secretary John Denham says.

Millions of pounds worth of investment and training will be made available to small businesses, the government has announced.

Skills secretary John Denham revealed £350 million would be earmarked for staff skills and qualifications, on the back of research showing businesses who had trained staff were potentially more likely to outlast a recession.

Mr Denham told the Daily Telegraph that small businesses were an "important engine of our economy" and supporting them was a priority.

He went on to say the government is "overhauling" the nation's training system to ensure businesses can get help with training staff more easily.

In addition, he said: "We know that firms which invest in skills do better, which is why we will be urging small businesses to take up this offer from government.''

Some of the funding may be able to be accessed by those who enrol on distance learning courses to better their qualifications, which will strengthen the companies they work for.

Earlier this week, the BBC quoted Ernst & Young Item Club think-tank as predicting rising unemployment.

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