Sainsbury’s, BT and Deutsche Bank are among companies helping to tackle skills shortages through the new University for Industry (Ufi), launched October 25. The scheme’s online learndirect network will build the capabilities needed by UK firms – three-quarters of which claim such capabilities are lacking, according to a recent survey by Reed consultants. Ufi will be focusing its resources on developing skills in IT, basic literacy and numeracy, and the skills for small businesses by offering 400 ‘e-learning’ courses to help train staff. So far Ufi and its learn direct network, with an £84m budget this year, are active in over 600 learning centres across England. 36,000 people have registered for courses, ranging from a one-hour session to programmes of more than 300 hours. Contact Ufi on 020 7681 6523 (http://www.ufiltd.co.uk); Reed on 020 7734 0884 (http://www.reed.co.uk)
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