Design to share in £200m from DIUS

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills confirms that a £200m fund could help plug skills gaps in the product and digital design sectors (DW 22 May).

DIUS has earmarked funds to improve facilities in schools and colleges serving the finance, construction, science, engineering and IT sectors.

‘Design could be a key part of the new expenditure,’ a DIUS spokesman tells Design Week. He adds that ‘funds are much more likely to be channelled towards the technology-driven end of design, rather than marketingled design disciplines.’

Product design would benefit as part of the engineering category, while digital design would fall under IT. The secretary of state for innovation, John Denham, is to hold meetings with business leaders next month in an attempt to identify priority areas for the funds and to discuss how to channel them.

He is expected to ask employers to lead the way on organising training. The Government estimates that Britain needs to train nearly two million workers in key disciplines to remain competitive in a global marketplace.

‘If anyone wants to meet the secretary of state to discuss the funding programme, they are welcome to get in touch,’ the DIUS spokesman added.

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