European Social Fund in England

SKILLBASE

SkillsBase was launched in April 2003 with the aim of providing targeted literacy and numeracy support for the Work Based Learning (WBL) programme in Bedfordshire and Luton. With a range of training and mentoring on offer to both WBL learners and providers, the project is delivered by Protech Training Services Ltd, in partnership with New Age Training and Chamber Business. With 2 skills centres established in Bedford and Luton and a central literacy and numeracy Resource Centre opened in Leighton Buzzard, SkillsBase has been designed to offer providers, learners and their employers, a useful source of advice and support.

With funding through the European Social Fund by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Bedfordshire and Luton, the project has been able to fund a wide variety of activities, including initial literacy and numeracy qualifications for 20 members of staff from a network of WBL providers; purchase of support materials and equipment; one to one mentoring for 10 WBL learning providers and customisation and delivery of training to individual learners.

David Gallant who is the project manager said "Now over one year on, 223 training places have been taken. By the end of the year, the project aims to deliver 250. By working closely with the WBL provider network, SkillsBase has proved to be a successful example of how partnership working can really make a difference. This is reflected in the fact that demand for the project services remains high, and is likely so for the immediate future"

For more information, please contact

Stacy Wood

ESF & Development Resources Advisor

Learning and Skills Council

Bedfordshire and Luton

Email: Stacy.wood@lsc.gov.uk

Direct Tel: 01234 420015

Fax: 01234 843211

Web: www.lsc.gov.uk