Leading the way
		Prime Minister Gordon Brown
		Employers sign commitment to help staff develop their skills for the future.
		More than 150 employers from across England have signed a Skills Pledge to train all their staff, ensuring they have the skills needed to compete in the global workplace. This means that over 1.7 million private and public sector employees are already covered by the agreement – with many more to follow. Among the first companies who made the public commitment to help their employees develop basic skills and work towards relevant qualifications were McDonald's Restaurants, Sainsbury's and Data Connection.		The launch of the Skills Pledge in London last month (June) was attended by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and many other senior politicians, and hosted by Trade and Investment Minister Sir Digby Jones, the former Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry. The launch also marked the appointment of Sir Michael Rake as Chair of the new UK Commission for Employment and Skills – an employer-led voice at the heart of the skills and employment agenda. Sir Michael is currently International Chairman of KPMG and Chair designate of BT.		Employers who register their intention to make the Skills Pledge are also able to access the support and advice of a Skills Broker through Train to Gain. For more information on the Skills Pledge, please visit traintogain.gov.uk/skillspledge
		A box of chocolates – or the opportunity to invest in new skills and change your life?
		Value of Learning aims to inspire adults to develop their skills and improve their career prospects. Most of us treat ourselves to a box of chocolates or a night out at the cinema every now and again. But why not spend money on something far more long-lasting – like the opportunity to learn valuable new skills and improve your career or to think about starting your own business?		That's the message behind the Value of Learning programme, which aims to encourage adults across the country to develop their skills and continue learning throughout their life. Value of Learning delivers specific messages alongside the skills campaign and aims to get people thinking about the importance of investing in learning and in themselves. As well as conveying the financial, personal and social benefits of learning and acquiring new skills, it also explains the need for individuals to make a financial contribution to their own learning. Full-time learners aged 19 and over and studying for a first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, however, may be eligible for the Adult Learning Grant of up to £30 per week. The Value of Learning programme follows on from last year's Further Education White Paper, Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances, which introduced changing fee structures for learners. A number of communications have been launched to promote Value of Learning. A series of four advertorials appeared in Bella, the weekly women's magazine, in May and June this year, highlighting the fact that investing in training can boost learners' career prospects. One of the learners featured was Maureen Scholefield, 57, who explained that she had lots of skills, but no formal qualifications.		After opting to study for the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's professional qualification, she said: "Investing in myself through training gave me the opportunity to start my own HR consultancy, which now employs 14 people." Meanwhile Katie Grosvenor, a 25-year-old marketing manager, decided to enrol on a digital photography course. "I invested time and my own money, but it was absolutely worth it," she said. "I’ve since been paid to take portraits and photos for friends' weddings. The extra earnings and confidence my training offered me are added bonuses." The LSC and the Government departments involved have also produced a series of research-led stories focusing on adults' attitudes to fees and learning and the real return on investment that training offers. Despite the concern expressed by some colleges and learning providers that learners might be reluctant to contribute to course fees, research shows that this does not put them off at all. On the contrary, learners appreciate that training offers "a real return on investment."
		"A helping hand"
		The new Adult Learning Grant will help adults pay for the cost of improving their skills. Many adults are keen to study for new qualifications and to improve their lives through skills – but worry that they can't afford it. The Value of Learning programme is already encouraging individuals to invest in learning but for people who are unable to take part due to a lack of funds, help may be available through the Adult Learning Grant. With the skills campaign underway, the LSC has announced that the Adult Learning Grant will now be available for the first time right across England. The Adult Learning Grant is a weekly grant which pays up to £30 per week (subject to financial assessment) for full-time learners aged 19 and over who are studying for a first full Level 2 or Level 3 qualification. It has been developed to help people who want to improve their employment prospects but might otherwise feel unable to take part in adult learning due to financial restrictions. Many people are using the Adult Learning Grant to pay for learning materials like books and research materials but it can also be put towards travel and childcare.		The launch of the Adult Learning Grant follows a four-year pilot programme carried out across four of the LSC's nine regions. The pilot was hugely successful, helping to improve colleges' retention and completion rates and giving more adults vital career-related qualifications. Research found that 93 per cent of learners who received the Adult Learning Grant completed their courses (compared to the overall Further Education rate of 85 per cent), while some colleges reported an impressive 100 per cent student retention rate. The pilot also showed that 95 per cent of Adult Learning Grant learners had enrolled on courses for career-development purposes – clear evidence that the grant has an important role to play in helping adults to become better-skilled, further boosting the skills levels of England’s workforce and contributing to a stronger economy for all. "The Adult Learning Grant offers learners a helping hand to get back into education, without having to worry about financial problems," said Mark Haysom, Chief Executive of the LSC.		"We found that many individuals felt held back in their careers by a lack of skills – but often financial problems stopped them from learning these skills. In pilot areas the Adult Learning Grant has already started to help people cross this barrier. It's been great to see that so many people involved in the pilot campaign have applied for courses that teach job-related skills – skills that will help them progress in their careers." The Adult Learning Grant will be promoted with a national and regional advertising campaign. The campaign focuses on the message that the future is in all our hands, using stunning photography of hands. At first glance, you look at the pictures and think you are seeing an image of someone holding three ten pound notes in their hands. However, a closer inspection reveals that the bank notes are actually painted on to the model's hands. This image is designed to link to some of the images and graphics being used in the "Our future. It's in our hands" campaign. People who want to find out more about the Adult Learning Grant and how to apply for it can visit their local college, call 0800 100 900 or visit direct.gov.uk/alg