UCU response to BIS committee report on Local Enterprise Partnerships

Responding to the Local Enterprise Partnerships report from the business, innovation and skills (BIS) committee, UCU said the new plans should not further complicate the already complex streams of funding for further education.

Last month a report from Lord Heseltine recommended more funding, particularly for further education and skills, being distributed at a local level through Local Enterprise Partnerships. The union said it supported more localised funding, but that there needed to be proper engagement with the local community, and particularly colleges, not simply local businesses deciding where the money went.

UCU General Secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'We already have complex funding arrangements for further education and any new system must seek to simplify them, not complicate them further. To ensure the Local Enterprise Partnerships have the necessary skills and capacity to deal with education and training they need to involve our further education colleges.

'We have always supported more localised funding for education and skills. However, if we are to see real improvements then there must be proper collaboration between colleges, their staff, the local community and business. This must not simply lead to business securing cash earmarked for local education.'