Audit Committee report on work-based learning in Wales

A new Audit Committee report is published today (Wednesday November 1) into the Work Based Learning Programme implemented by ELWa and now run by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Work Based Learning Programme funds both public and private-sector training providers across Wales. The cost of Work-Based Learning (WBL) funding in 2004-05 was £84 million. The Audit Committee looked at whether changes introduced in 2004 have resulted in improvements to WBL. The report concludes that :

• A new learner administration database has brought significant benefits to the overall management of the programme, but there were problems with its implementation from which lessons must be learned;
• Current standards of control at training providers continue to present unacceptable risks to public funds; and
• The future procurement and management of contracts with training providers must secure improved safeguards over both the use of public funds and the quality of training provision.

The report makes nine recommendations, including better audit, control and assessment of WBL providers who are receiving public funds and more robust contract arrangements. Janet Davies AM, Chair of Audit Committee, said: “Post-16 work-based learning represents an important area of activity for the people and economy of Wales, and we consider it essential that the significant amount of public funding being provided for it should be properly applied for the purposes intended and achieve the desired outcomes. The new arrangements for work-based learning put into place in 2004 have resulted in several improvements, but more should still be done to improve standards of control and ensure the delivery of high-quality training.”