A network of employer-led, world-class centres of excellence delivering the skills required by each sector of the economy.

The National Skills Academy represents an exciting evolution in the way we train our workforce. For the first time, employers will take control of the design and delivery of learning in their industry, working in partnership with government and top training providers, from both the public and private sectors.

This means new thinking about the skills we need, responding to employers'' insights and experience and developing programmes tailor-made for their industries. “For the UK to compete in a global economy it is critical we equip everyone, especially the lowest skilled and unemployed, with the skills they need to get a job and progress in work.”

It means higher standards of training delivery, as employers know the levels of performance they need from their people to keep ahead of the competition, whether at home or abroad.

Leaders Together is a mentoring scheme which aims to increase the capacity of grassroots Refugee Community Organisations (RCOs) by tapping into the knowledge of mainstream voluntary sector organisations. Leaders of RCOs are matched in one-to-one mentoring relationships with senior professionals from the voluntary sector for a total of 24 hours over a six month period.

Mentors share their own professional experience with their mentee, supporting them with specific work-related goals. This might include offering support in some of the following areas: Fundraising, Financial management, Development and strategic planning, Communications and PR, Lobbying & influencing, Human resources and staff management, Volunteer management, Partnership working, Leadership skills, Social enterprise.

Women working in London who want to break into one of the many 'men's worlds' of work can now ask their employer to sponsor appropriate level three training for the subsidised price of no more than £585.

This represents a discount of between 67 and 78 per cent, and any further discount that can be negotiated with the provider can come off of the employer's contribution.

The offer is part of the Train To Gain programme, resulting from recommendations made by the Women and Work Commission.

Over 18,000 union learning representatives (ULRs) across the country are promoting training and learning in the workplace on behalf of union members. The unionlearn Quality Award will be awarded to programmes and courses that meet good practice criteria and will help signpost ULRs to providers that are working successfully and flexibly with unions.

The unionlearn Quality Award will be awarded to providers who are committed to working with trade unions and can demonstrate that unions and union learners are considered in the design, development and delivery of courses and programmes.

A new individually tailored work placement programme for unemployed refugees has been launched by ATS Community Employment. The programme includes: advice and guidance; training and support; job search skills; intensive ESOL/basic skills tuition; and specialist sector-focused training linked to work placement and job opportunities which lead to sustainable employment.