ALP invites applications for £3m workplace e-learning funding

Work-based learning providers are being encouraged to bid for £3 million of funding, from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), to help the sector adopt new technology and explore innovative ways of applying ICT solutions.

The Association of Learning Providers (ALP), which is managing the Government’s Learning Innovation Grant (LIG) project, is inviting applications from providers "that have not bid before as well as consortia bids".

Bidders will be able to apply for the new funding, the fifth tranche in a £13 million scheme, from Friday 4 September.

According to an ALP spokesman, feedback from the previous LIG 4 phase "indicates that LIG-funded programmes are having a direct impact on learner engagement, motivation, retention and achievement, with 88% of providers reporting improvements".

Chris Young, director of Jobwise Training, which works with employers in the transport sector, said: "The LIG 4 project has given us the opportunity to acquire state of the art equipment that would have been way over our budget but which has now given hundreds of learners additional road and fuel saving skills and additional job skills for the transportation industry."

ALP’s business development director, Chris Swingler, said: "We would like to see the LIG 5 project build on the very encouraging impact made with learner retention and achievement rates, whilst increasing the access to e-learning among the workforces of businesses to help improve business efficiencies and take advantage of the economic upturn when it comes."