Institute delighted with Chancellor's scheme for training tax breaks
The Institute of IT Training has welcomed Gordon Brown's announcement that he will introduce tax breaks for employers that provide training, with IT skills being recognised as crucial to Britain's future success.
Chancellor Gordon Brown told Parliament yesterday that from next September a new scheme would be trialled encouraging employers to provide some basic level training to employees. "We will pilot a new approach combining direct financial support for business with time off for training," he said.
Welcoming the news, Skills and Education secretary Estelle Morris said: "The £40m pilots announced will extend new learning opportunities to adults."
"This is excellent news," said Colin Steed, chief executive of the IITT. "We have been campaigning for this, along with others in the industry and so we are delighted with the news. However, I would still like to see the system extended to include more than just basic IT skills. Tax breaks should cover any work-related training and development, as well as incentives for employers to bring in women returners and older workers into IT."
Training initiatives such as the European Computer Driving Licence would qualify for the tax breaks under Brown's proposals. Last week, the European Commission called for all members to introduce tax breaks to encourage training throughout Europe.