In the latest edition of Countdown to the Learning and Skills Council(LSC), The Training & Employment Network reports that the Department for Education and Employment is to establish a central unit which will provide a contracting service to large employers and to organisations delivering training provision on behalf of large employers.

Although training providers will hold contracts with local LSCs, the Large Employer Unit will act as a broker in negotiating contracts between some employers and local LSCs, in the same way that National Training Partnerships currently do.

Further details about the unit will be made available in late October with the publication of a detailed prospectus.

In a separate case, Secretary of State David Blunkett announced in June that £2.5 million would be made available to help raise skill levels amongst small businesses. National Training Organisations have been asked to co-ordinate bids for funding one of the 10 to 25 projects which will be targeted and will be responsible for routing the money through to companies requiring it. An announcement should be made by 1 October giving details of the successful bids.

As developments continue in the formation of the LSC, further details about the implications for TEC, Further Education Funding Council and Training Standards Council staff is available at http://www.uuy.org.uk/projects/post16/handover/index.htm