More new centres of vocational excellence (03/12/02) - including a CoVE in Customer Service Quality for Blackpool and The Fylde College

The Learning and Skills Council has announced that a further 59 colleges and training providers have progressed to the next stage of the Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) programme. This follows the Education Secretary's announcement that the CoVE programme is being expanded so that 400 centres are established by 2006.

The latest entrants comprise 48 further education colleges (including Blackpool and The Fylde College) and 11 CoVE extension providers of work based learning. They bring the total number brought into the programme in the last 15 months to 150. See the table of award winners at the foot of this page.

John Harwood, Chief Executive of the LSC, said:

"The CoVE programme is having a real impact on strengthening the further education and training provider sector's responsiveness to meeting employers' skills needs.

"Expanding the programme sends a powerful message to employers and providers that we are serious about improving the quality and quantity of vocational skills. We are determined to create a CoVE network which best meets employers' skills needs at local, regional and sectoral levels".

Key objectives of the CoVE programme are:

• To develop and strengthen innovative approaches by eligible providers funded by the LSC to meeting the country's present and future skills needs
• To enhance the standing of LSC funded providers with employers
• To encourage collaboration among providers and promote the concept of provider excellence in economically relevant vocational specialisms

All 59 new CoVEs will focus on meeting employers' skills needs in priority areas such as business and finance, catering and hospitality and the various specialisms within construction, engineering and food technology. The extension providers will build on the work of the college-based CoVEs, which were first approved in April 2002. All CoVEs, regardless of sector, will provide individuals with specialist skills across a range of new and traditional occupations from computing and construction to aeronautical and marine engineering.

Charles Clarke, Secretary of State for Education and Skills, told delegates to the AoC conference on 19 November:

"Good progress has been made in establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence. We will build on this success by further expanding the network, so that there are 400 CoVEs by 2006 which will be centres of best practice, responding to demands for skills locally by providing vocational excellence in the locality"

Centres of Vocational Excellence have an important role to play in the LSC's drive to create a workforce that matches the best in the world. They are designed to make sure that training provision in this country meets the skills needs of business and industry. CoVEs focus on meeting employer demand for level 3 skills, which are roughly equivalent to A-levels. Only half of our 19-28 year olds hold such qualifications, yet the National Skills Task Force report suggested that seven out of 10 jobs would require level 3 qualifications - many in craft and technical subjects - by 2010.

The latest tranche of successful providers have all produced a 12-month audit and development plan and are able to use the CoVE logo and promotional materials. Local Learning and Skills Councils will work closely with the providers to monitor progress over the next 12 months. Once they have successfully completed their development plans, they will obtain formal CoVE status.