02 May 2001

Education and Employment Secretary David Blunkett today congratulated David Baldwin of Watford on being the one-millionth person to open up an Individual Learning Account (ILA). The Government target of reaching one million ILAs by March 2002 has been met a year early. Mr Baldwin met Mr Blunkett and Education and Employment Minister Tessa Blackstone at the 1,000th learndirect centre in Hounslow, West London.

Mr Blunkett said:

"Today we are celebrating many achievements which mark major progress towards our ambition for all people to develop their talent, the potential of their families and the capacity of the communities in which they live and work. Our commitment to reach one million Individual Learning Accounts has been met a year early. ILAs are a success story, with an average of 3,000 accounts being opened each day. More than half the people who have opened an ILA since January had not been in learning in the last three years.

"This is proof that ILAs are achieving the aim to make learning more affordable and accessible. They play their part in encouraging people to take responsibility for their own learning and development. Anyone can open an ILA and find out if they are eligible to have £150 paid towards the cost of their course. They only need to call the ILA Centre on 0800 072 5678 to find out more."

David Blunkett also met one of the 100,000 learndirect learners, Jenny Keeble who is working towards her European Computer Driving Licence in Peterborough.

"Jenny Keeble is one of the 100,000 learners who have signed-up for over 200,000 learndirect courses. Courses can cover everything from communications technology to basic literacy and numeracy, and are easily accessible to people from all backgrounds. Over 2.5 million callers have benefited from information and advice from the learndirect helpline, which helps to raise skill levels by promoting universal, on-line access to learning opportunities. And with ILAs to help pay for learning, people are improving their work prospects, earning power and quality of life."

Tessa Blackstone said:

"The 1,000th learndirect centre represents a record of achievement that we want to develop further in 2001-02 with £76 million to help expand the learndirect service in its first full year of operation. Through our investment access to learning will be easier than ever."

Mr Blunkett said:

"The people I have met today are proving that lifelong learning is an essential part of improving skills and job prospects. Many people find out about learning opportunities while they are at work. Today I am also announcing a consultation on providing statutory recognition for Union Learning Representatives. Union Learning Representatives are trained to give advice to their members on learning opportunities and have been instrumental in encouraging workers to open learning accounts."

The learndirect helpline phone number is 0800 100 900.

Editor's Notes

1. For more information about ILAs please see DfEE PN 1999/0228 or www.my-ila.com. The ILA Centre freephone number is 0800 072 5678. Information about ILAs is also available from Job Centres and Union Learning Representatives.

2. The White Paper, Opportunity for All in a World of Change, announced the Government's intention to consult on its proposals to give statutory recognition to union learning representatives. This recognition will include new rights to reasonable paid time off for their initial training and for carrying out their duties. Union Learning Representatives are trained to give advice to members on lifleong learning issues. The current network of over 2,000 learning representatives has been developed through the Government's Union Learning Fund.

3. David Baldwin - 1 millionth ILA cardholder
Mr David Baldwin, a 37-year-old factory worker from Watford, was told about Individual Learning Accounts by an external agency. Always having an eye on the future, David was keen to obtain further qualifications and new skills as something to fall back on.

4. Jenny Keeble - 100,000 learndirect learners
Jenny Keeble works as an IT assistant in an infant school in Walton, Peterborough. She is working towards the European Computer Driving Licence with learndirect, and is funding her learning with an Individual Learning Account. Although Jenny already has IT skills, she is keen to fill in gaps in her knowledge, so that she can become more involved in IT problem solving, technical support and trouble shooting at the school. She began her course last week, and is planning to learn at the learndirect centre in Peterborough Central Library, (where she registered for her course) in her local library at Werrington, and at school after the children have gone home. Jenny is a governor of Walton Infant School, where she has worked for 10 years.

5. The regional breakdown of ILAs is shown in the attached table.Click here to see table
6. The total number of accounts opened in the UK to date is 1,060,860 (including ILAs opened by TECs/CCTEs/LECs and those opened under the national arrangements since September 2000). In England Training and Enterprise Councils opened 166,000 accounts that have not yet been transferred to the Capita/ILA Centre. The Capita/ILA Centre has opened 750,000 ILAs - totalling 916,000. The remaining ILAs have been opened in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - for more information please contact Andrew Baird in Scotland on 0131 244 2661; Janis Pickwick in Wales on 029 2089 8556; or Simon Burrowes in Northern Ireland on 028 9025 7831.

7. For more information about learndirect please see DfEE PN 2000/0458. learndirect is the network of learning services being developed by Ufi Limited. There are now 1069 learndirect centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, providing people with the opportunity to learn in places that offer an alternative to traditional academic settings. Since 1 April 2000, [100,000] people have enrolled for [211,000] learndirect courses. More than 70% of the 400 plus courses currently on offer from learndirect are available on-line. Courses include information and communication technology courses at a range of levels, nearly 300 business and management programmes suitable for small businesses and courses in the basics of reading, writing and numbers.

8. The learndirect helpline number is freephone 0800 100 900. The helpline is open 9.00am-9.00pm Monday-Friday or Saturday 9.00am-midday. The helpline is supplemented by the learndirect website (www.learndirect.co.uk), which allows users to search for themselves the learndirect database of learning opportunities. DfEE has allocated total funding of £76 million for 2001-02 to Ufi Limited to support and develop learndirect.

Contact Details

Public enquiries: 0870 000 2288, info@dfee.gov.uk

Press Notice 2001/0238