The Minister for Education and Employment, Julia Gillard, has announced an increase in funding for the Enterprise Based Productivity Places Program (EBPPP). The federal government, in partnership with industry, will co-fund almost 11,000 extra training places for existing employees in small, medium and large businesses to boost skills in high demand. $40 million has been allocated to the EBPPP, effective immediately. A further $10 million will be allocated before July 2010 and will deliver approximately 2,700 additional training places.
The federal government will provide up to 90% of the cost of training from Certificate III to Advanced Diploma level, depending on the size of the business. Organisations with less than 100 employees will receive 90% of their training costs. Employers with between 100 and 199 employees will receive 75% of their training costs and those with 200 or more employees will receive 50%.
Doubling the funding to $50 million and training 11,000 extra existing workers in more than 2,350 enterprises will help build the capacity of the Australian workforce to increase the skills of existing employees, especially those on the priority occupations list.
