Businesses have until 5 December to apply for the second call of a government funded scheme that aims to improve the quality of training and career progression in the engineering sector.

The Employer Ownership Fund automotive supply chain call, (forming part of a £30M initiative announced in June  by skills and enterprise minister, Matthew Hancock) is available to all companies that employ engineers. Offering employers a 50% cash match for training programmes, the application process is not bureaucratic and provides a fantastic opportunity for companies to address skills shortages holding their businesses back. Previous businesses that were accepted onto the scheme received their funding in approximately six weeks.

£10M of the scheme is set aside to fund projects that help people into and progress through the engineering profession, by equipping people with the skills that will secure employment within the sector.

Another driving force behind the scheme is to encourage more women into the industry and £10M of the fund is directed to this. The scheme will fund companies that develop training projects that are specifically directed towards assisting the career progression of female engineers.

Open until the 5th December 2014, 50% government contribution will be available for the following:

Training programmes to bring people with STEM skills into Engineering

Re-skilling programmes to keep engineers in the profession

Raising skill levels through the workforce from operator to technician and towards professional status

For women and career returners:

“Returner training” to enable women to return to engineering after a break or work outside the engineering profession

Pre-apprenticeship programmes to help more women into apprenticeships

Mentoring and support to help them through their career

Tailored training to meet specific and personal career needs

Management and leadership skills

For further information please click here.