Funding chief Mark Haysom spoke in defence of his record this week as his organisation came under attack from both the Tories and Government advisers.
Mr Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council’s chief executive, said the organisation had made good progress since it took over in 2001 from the Further Education Funding Council, with a string of innovative projects that had helped build close relationships with industry.
“We are spending more on provision that directly meets the needs of learners and employers.
“We have invested an extra pound;41 million on apprenticeships and have launched the pound;230m Train to Gain, which will provide 500,000 employees with level 2 qualifications (equivalent to five good GCSEs) by 2010.”
The LSC says it has had measurable results, including a reduction in the proportion of employees without work skills from 11 per cent in 2003 to 6 per cent in 2005.
Mr Haysom said: “We opened the first national skills academy (the fashion retail academy) with Philip Green last year and will open four more this year.”
