Welcome to a Special Edition of the LSC South East marketing ezine for providers and partners. Please find included details of campaigns we will be running over the coming months.

New Train to Gain Ad Campaign

Yesterday afternoon DIUS released a press release with information on the new Train to Gain ad campaign that was aired on television for the first time on Monday evening. To read the full release click on the link here.

Train to Gain

An email with regards to the new Train to Gain Flexibilities for SME's was sent out to all colleges and providers yesterday afternoon. The information contained within the email can be found by following the links below.

• A letter from Mark Haysom, Chief Executive with further information on the recent changes to Train to Gain as well as a briefing note on the announcement of flexibilities for SMEs.
  
• Version 5 of the eligible repeat Level 2 qualifications. Please note these can be delivered up to the ratio of first and repeat qualifications previously communicated. For Train to Gain in the South East this is 70:30 at Level 2.
  
• Version 1 of the eligible repeat Level 3 qualifications. Please note these can be delivered with immediate effect up to the ratio of first and repeat qualifications previously communicated. For Train to Gain in the South East this is 80:20 at Level 3.

Summer of Skills

As you may be aware, on Thursday 6 November, the LSC held an event to celebrate the successes of the ‘Summer of Skills' and to provide a quick preview of how we are planning to raise aspirations and improve skills in 2009. The event was very well attended and was held at the Vincent Rooms at Westminster Kingsway College (WKC) in London, the UK 's first hospitality school. It showcased the summer advertising and PR activity and previewed the latest campaign materials including the new Train to Gain TV advert.

During the event, there were speeches by Lord Young, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Skills and Apprenticeships, and Chris Banks, Chairman of the Learning and Skills Council. Andy Wilson, the principal of WKC, and Tony Thompson, from medium-sized employer Regency Lodge, also spoke at the event, demonstrating how the Skills Campaign has contributed to their marketing and training.

The handouts, display boards and the content of the memory sticks that were given out at the event can all be found in the Skills Campaign section of the LSC's Campaign Resources Site (CRS).

Also shown at the event was an inspirational case study video featuring the learning provider, Gen II, showing the innovative ways that they have used the Skills Campaign branding and imagery to great effect to promote their training. Last, and by no means least, the LSC's “Coming Soon” video took a quick look at the forthcoming development of the various LSC campaigns.

The Gen II case study and ‘Coming Soon' videos as well as the new Train to Gain advertisement can be viewed in the Skills Campaign section of the CRS or at http://uk.youtube.com/user/handklsc2008.

If you would like to subscribe to this service then please contact Adam Sharp.