Say NO to VAT on Training - Join our Campaign Now!
There was a time when governments realised the value of educating people to join the workforce, and consequently help the country to trade more profitably. But when New Labour, (and Tony and Gordon specifically) took control, one of their changes was to add VAT to the previously exempt cost of training.
It was a bitter blow at the time, and showed no foresight or consideration of the consequences - small wonder we’re now so short of qualified individuals in the IT industry.
Along with many others, it was just another one of those stealth taxes from Chancellor Brown, out for a quick gain despite the dire problems it was stacking up for the future.
But in these times of great economic hardship, how can the government justify still charging VAT on personal training programmes? Surely if any time was the right time to do the responsible thing, that time is now.
Education and training are the backbone of a civilised, profitable society. Learning not only contributes to personal wealth, it is the major influence on the growth of successful companies and therefore the country as a whole. Taxing training puts it in the category of a luxury item – making the student pay the government for the extravagance of their learning experience!
Outrageous VAT Tax on UK Commmercial Training Students !
How many more young people could enter the world of IT Training if their expenses were cut by 17.5%? On the one hand, we have employers crying out for qualified IT professionals, and on the other we have a closed door to many who just haven’t the money to get onto that first rung of the ladder. Companies can’t afford to start the training process for their staff – they look for those who’ve already begun to develop their skills and gained commercial qualifications.
This prohibitive tax hurts the individual consumer and student – companies who pay for further staff training can claim the VAT back from the government, so apart from extra administration they’re not affected. The training companies themselves gain nothing from charging VAT – they have to pay it straight on to the taxman! On the contrary, if training was tax exempt, more people could afford to study, so more qualified IT personnel could fill the many vacancies available, and businesses would have more chance of thriving in these challenging times.
The only group appearing to benefit financially from VAT on training is the government. But is it really?
Surely it’s in the country’s best interests to encourage training, and have a more educated, employable workforce. Commercial training doesn’t enjoy the financial support of low interest student loans as universities do...
The very least Chancellor Darling could do is NOT charge VAT!
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Frankly Speaking... thoughts for the day!
The Classroom and The Personal Learning Curve
I remember sitting at the back of the class thinking, "I hope the teacher doesn't ask me to answer that last question!" Not because I couldn't answer it, or at least have a stab at it, but just like going on a TV quiz show, answering on-time and in front of an 'audience' is not always as easy as it seems.
This didn't mean that I couldn't learn the subject matter - but rather that the environment didn't work for me.
Considering this, I greatly believe in and support the new wave of training plans being offered, as they clearly support new ways of learning.
One of the best examples of this has to be the strategies being employed within the IT industry. Not surprisingly, using the latest technological assets to teach what can be complex skills and techniques, with a high level of success.
Offering the option of on-line and multimedia lessons, presented by leaders in their respective field, gives high grade access to a vast array of learning material - whenever the student wants, and wherever they want it. True 24x7 learning and the real option to choose where to study; all of which adds to the learning experience and ultimately improves learning success.
A far cry away from the sterile and intimidating classroom experience of youth.
There are clearly other benefits: The ability to carry on study when the student may not feel wholly well, or during incapacitation. Training schemes are available to all, including those with disabilities who find it difficult to study at a centralised centre. The ability to carry on studying regardless of the weather outside, and the ability to study in the security of one's own home.
Additional advantages include the reduction in 'down-time' and cost; in terms of the time it takes to travel to and from the travel centre, the issue of having to be there at a set time, and the cost of travel there and back. All this supports the strategy of 'smart study' - studying what you want, when you want it, where it suits you best, and in a cost effective manner.
This method of training is not dependent upon the slow upgrades or revisions of books and reading material. Students are more likely to be studying the latest concepts and skills available, giving them an edge over their counterparts.
This doesn't mean that you're forced to study in isolation though. This new training philosophy understands that some people need to blend their study program with human communication. As such, a truly effective plan includes on-line 'interactive' support, and many students also set up their own study-buddy network, where they can discuss their ideas in a relaxed environment and review the concepts under study.
There has been incredible development in the field of IT and educational strategies. It seems natural that these two disciplines would come together to the advantage of the student, and create a training environment where the student is more in-control, making it more pleasurable overall. Surely that is one of the basic tenets of learning?
(C) LearningLolly 2009 - 44:49