Individual Training Accounts: evaluation

Programme Improvements

Overall the evaluation findings are broadly positive about the programme set up, application process, delivery and impacts. Over half of survey respondents (53%) did not want to see any changes to the ITA programme. Having said that, 20% of survey respondents did wish to see some changes, and participants and training providers did have suggestions on how the programme could be improved based on their experiences. This chapter presents the suggested improvements.

Suggested improvements

Increasing the ITA value above £200

The value of an ITA was set at £200 in 2004 and has remained at the same level since then. In the survey, 73% of the respondents who agreed with any changes, supported an increase in the £200 cap on funding for training. Respondents who had used an ITA more than once were more likely to want to see this change, with 52% of responses from multiple users (compared to 42% of one time users). Similarly, respondents who had previously not topped up their course cost themselves were more in favour of increasing the £200 cap (60% compared to 40%), although given this group were already topping up the additional value for money of any increase may be questionable.

Training providers reported that increasing the value would provide more support to participants who wanted to upskill and retrain by using an ITA. One provider said that they were increasingly having to refer participants onto repayment plans as they were unable to pay their course value outright; and the provider anticipated this would become more common with the rising cost of living.

It was also reported that increasing the value of the ITA would more accurately cover the course costs for providers. Many providers capped the costs of their courses which are eligible for ITA use at the £200 limit, despite increasing delivery costs. This has been done by some providers, in part because of they were aware that their ITA client group did not have the additional resources to contribute to the course cost. However, by holding prices firm the market risks becoming less attractive to providers, even more so at a time of high inflation.

Remove the restriction on one ITA use per year

The ability to apply for more than one ITA course per year was the second most commonly supported change in the survey, with 45% of respondents in favour of this change. Unsurprisingly, over half (56%) of these respondents were multiple ITA users. Perhaps those respondents thought they could have progressed in their training more quickly had they been able to access multiple ITAs each year.

Linked to this, training providers also thought removing this restriction would give participants more opportunities to upskill and retrain each year. This was considered to be particularly useful in instances where participants had to complete two or more courses to gain further qualifications.

Those who did not top up their course cost were more likely to be in favour of removing this restriction (61%).

Training providers highlighted that if participants could only undertake one course per year and their course cost was less than £200, that was lost value for the participant, compared to when the ILA course allowed participants to take multiple courses and benefit from the whole £200 allowance.

It is worth noting however, that the ability to benefit from multiple ITAs per year is dependent on course duration. Those using an ITA as part of a college course which is likely to last an academic year are likely not to benefit from a multiple use approach. Whereas those who use ITAs to cover shorter, one or multi-day courses, may be able to benefit from being able to apply soon after their course completion.

Further improvements suggested

There were additional improvements suggested through the focus groups and training provider interviews which are noted below.

Wider promotion and marketing of ITAs

Through the focus groups, most commonly, people felt that the ITA programme could be better promoted. Participants thought that awareness of the programme was low among members of the public, and more could be done to publicise opportunities available. Depending on how demand for ITAs recovers from the impact of Covid, stimulating more demand through wider marketing may or may not be required depending on take up compared to the number of places available. However, it may be that a consistent marketing approach could be introduced.

"Maybe [ITAs should] be publicised a bit more widely. I'm not really a social media person so maybe it is advertised widely, and I just don't see it, but I sort of stumbled across it and was a bit annoyed because I thought, 'oh no, I could have been doing these in the background even while I was working full-time if I had known'."

Female, In work

Linked to this, there is scope to understand and tackling the perception (and experience) of people being 'pushed' into training opportunities that might not fit their career goals, interests or skills. This may involve improving awareness in organisations connected to the programme (e.g. jobcentres, training providers) about their aims of the programme.

Adopt an element of means testing

If it was not possible to make either of the suggested changes above, training providers said that modifications to the programme should be made that are proportional to need. For example participants on the lowest income should receive increased funding or be entitled to use the ITA more than once per year. However, to note if considering means testing further, only a minority of survey respondents (17%) and focus group participants were in favour of increasing the income eligibility threshold above £22k.

"That tight.... I reckon it's something that should be open to everyone more or less. Why should it be that only people who are not making a certain amount should get it? If it's only an amount of £200, that should be available to anyone as long as it's set on a proper course that justified doing that."

Male, Social Care

Changes to course choice

Most training providers were happy with the range of courses covered by the ITA, however two highlighted that reintroducing first aid in the workplace would be beneficial. While employers are mandated to provide first aid training to some people in their workforce to meet their health and safety obligations, training providers thought that it was often unemployed participants that would undertake this course and, by doing so, it would help improve their confidence, build their skills and show a willingness to train and learn. While these skills may not in themselves directly ensure a participant would gain a job, completing such courses would enhance their CV for their job search.

Adapting processes to account for training 'no shows'

The extent to which training providers were affected by participants not attending training once booked varied. For colleges or those delivery mostly online training this was not an issue. However, training providers delivering face to face sessions which are affected by this issue would like to reduce some of the financial costs incurred. It was suggested that once a participant had been verified on the system, training providers could be entitled to claim for a percentage of the course costs, in case of a no show.

Linking into wider CIAG provision

Within the focus groups, participants thought that wrap-around support for people (in terms of careers advice and employment opportunities post-qualification) would be beneficial. Given careers services are available through SDS, there could be a greater move to link this into the ITA offer and more signposting of careers advice could be made available. This could help ensure all participants are connected to a training opportunity that will make a genuine difference to their career (based on their current situation, current skills, and where they want to be in the future). Engagement may also help improve self-confidence and self-esteem among participants as they access support to progress in their employment journey.

"I would like to see more of a link between the jobcentre, ITA, Business Gateway, to have more comprehensive support. I think there are so many people in jobs they are unhappy with."

Female, Fitness, Health and Beauty