Individual Training Accounts have been axed for 2024-25. It is not clear if they will be available in future years.
In a letter (link below) to the Convenor of the Education, Children and Young People Committee of the Scottish Parliament, HE and FE Minister, Graeme Dey MSP, said: `This year, as the unprecedented challenges on the budget of the Scottish Government and its agencies continue, no funds exist in the SDS budget allocation for the delivery of the ITA scheme in 2024/25.’
He added: `Support for people who are out of work or working parents will continue to be available through other Scottish Government initiatives, such as the No One Left Behind, delivered at a local authority level through the local employability partnerships.’
Individuals seeking to access No One Left Behind opportunities will find this challenging at the present time as the Scottish Government has still to agree its £100 million Employability budget with local authorities.
The loss of the Individual Training Account programme will be keenly felt by many people on low incomes who need support to secure employment or advance in their current job role.
Many will now be in a position where they are unable to move forward and access the training they need to make them more attractive to an employer. Accessing training provides a sense of routine and purpose; course completion and the issue of a certificate is a great confidence booster for many, especially those who are furthest removed from the labour market.
The announcement of the axing of Individual Training Accounts is another negative development in the skills and employability landscape in recent months:
- December 2023: Budget cuts for Employability and Skills: The Employability budget was reduced by 23% (£133.608M to £102.879M) and the Skills budget was reduced by 27% (£50.575M to £36.936M).
- December 2023: Flexible Workforce Development Fund axed.
- April 2024: Modern Apprenticeship delivery contracts freeze: Delay of 16 days in the issue of delivery contracts to training providers, colleges and employers.
- April 2024: No One Left Behind and Employability support programmes freeze. Delay in the issue of delivery contracts to local authorities which are used to support people into employment. This is still not resolved at the time of writing.
