The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has given approval to more than £10 million of funding for two new skills facilities that will make a major impact on meeting employers’ skill needs by providing vital training places.

The first project, which will receive £4.3 million from the LSC, is a Flybe training academy, based in Exeter, which is a unique facility providing training opportunities for the global airline industry and is entirely employer led. The South West Regional Development Agency will contribute £2.8 million.

The second facility is a training centre, based in Cathall Road, Waltham Forest, to support the construction industry, including projects such as the London 2012 Olympic site and will be run by the National Skills Academy for Construction.

The LSC, in partnership with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, continues to provide focused investment for the development of specialist facilities which are critical for meeting employers' skill needs and supporting the Government's New Industry, New Jobs agenda.

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The funding for the two centres was announced by Skills Minister, Kevin Brennan today, who was visiting Flybe to observe the work that takes place there at its Exeter headquarters.

Kevin Brennan MP, Minister for Further Education, Skills, Apprenticeships and Consumer Affairs said: "It is great news that these two centres have received funding to provide high-quality training to people who are keen to broaden their skills and improve their employability.

"The opportunities these centres offer will not only benefit learners in the long-term but will help address unemployment and provide the skills needed to work on major engineering and construction projects.

"Britain needs vital investment to improve the skills of the workforce. That’s why we continue to help people access the training they need to get into and get on at work, especially in tougher times, and make sure they are best placed to win those jobs of the future."

The Flybe Training Academy, based at Exeter International Airport, will be an international training centre for the airline industry, 'over-training' for companies involved in the full spectrum of the industry, including opportunities for aircraft maintenance, cabin crew, pilots, customer care and other related travel skills. Flybe works closely with Exeter College and Exeter University to deliver their innovative and unique courses.

The National Skills Academy for Constructions' Cathall Road centre will be ideally located to deliver the training needs of major construction projects such as Thameslink, Heathrow East and Crossrail as well as the Olympic site. Following the launch of the Thames House Training Centre at Newham earlier this year, there are now three National Skills Academy for Construction training centres supporting the Olympic site, which could offer up to 20,000 training places.

(CD/KMcA)