A.75 Employer ownership of skills funding - The Government will route public investment in skills directly to employers to allow them to purchase the vocational training they need through a new pilot fund of up to £250 million. In early 2012, employers will be invited to bid for a share of the fund.
A.76 Destination information publication - The Government will publish destination information at ages 16 and 18 from spring 2013 to encourage schools' focus on young people's future beyond school as well as attainment. The Government recognises the contribution that strong links between schools, colleges, and business can make to outcomes for young people, and will keep the impact of this measure under review and consider stronger incentives if needed.
A.77 Work experience - The Government will invest £4.5 million over the next two years to support work experience as part of post-16 learning; work with the Federation of Small Businesses and other employer groups to review regulation impacting on work experience by the end of December 2011; and publish a guide to address common misconceptions about work experience.
A.78 Course kite-marking - A group of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-focused sector skills councils (the Sector Skills Council for Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies; the Sector Skills Council for Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Nuclear, Oil and Gas, Petroleum and Polymer Businesses; and e-skills), with support from the Confederation of British Industry and Skillset, will lead an industry group to kite-mark courses, helping students understand better which courses are valued by employers. The Government will encourage other sector skills councils to do the same. Students will be able to access initial information on employer endorsement as part of the 2012 Key Information Sets.
A.79 Careers information, advice and guidance - The Government will create an improved careers information portal as part of the National Careers Service from April 2012, through which the public can access up to date, employer-sourced information on occupations, progression routes, wages and employment trends. As part of the Youth Contract, an additional £4.2 million over three years will be provided so that the service can provide careers interviews for 18-24 year olds who have been on Jobseeker's Allowance for three months.
A.80 Education export opportunities - The Government will launch HE Global, an online portal providing information and advice to higher education (HE) institutions on expanding abroad. It will also develop a vehicle to bring together government, the HE sector and industry expertise to package and sell education offers overseas.