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University of York

New Network provides one-stop shop for business training

Posted on 28 February 2008

An initiative led by the University of York has won a major funding boost from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to assist UK universities to develop and deliver business focussed training programmes to support workforce development both nationally and internationally.

Universities and other higher education institutions are major providers of staff training and development services to private and public organisations across the UK and internationally.

Until now, it has been difficult for employers to identify which universities could provide the training they needed and who to contact within each institution.

The CPD Network is all about responding to employer demand

Amanda Selvaratnam

The UK Universities Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Network will work to change that by providing a single and reliable point of access for employers - connecting them with a named co-ordinator in each institution who can provide them with information on developing their workforce.

Since its inception in 2007, the Network, which brings together every UK university, has been managed informally by CPD experts in the University of York.s Enterprise and Innovation Office. But the £400,000 grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) will allow it to re-launch as a structured national network with its headquarters in York.

Under the improved scheme, employers will be able to access a dedicated website and identify institutions which can meet their specific training needs.

Amanda Selvaratnam, the Network Manager, said: "The CPD Network is all about responding to employer demand. In the future anyone looking to source higher education provision for employers and employees will only need to contact one organisation to identify which of the 168 UK universities can deliver or develop the kind of training services they need.

"This new funding will allow us to expand and structure our activities to make them far more visible to employers and brokers working on their behalf - which is great news for everyone."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Contact details

Amanda Selvaratnam
01904 435102