Earlier this week an independent panel chaired by David Sherlock Director of Beyond Standards (formerly CEO of ALI), held a meeting to approve the review panel’s bid recommendations for LIG 4 funding.

Following the panel’s rigorous interrogation of the process for recommendation of £4m of bid funding, they were fully satisfied the process applied is fair and equitable and moved to ratifying all the recommended bids. David Sherlock commented that LIG 4 had evidently been a very difficult process (due to the large number and high standard of bids to a value of nearly £14m!) which he commented ALP has managed and implemented extremely well. He added the huge response clearly identifies there is a demand for the LIG programme. The panel also commented on the number of wide-ranging and innovative consortia proposals, which will impact across large numbers of organisations within the skill sector.

The LSC’s LIG capital fund has provided a real boost and has been very successful in building capacity and capability within the sector, leading to an increase in learner retention, achievement and motivation. We anticipate LIG 4 will continue to be as successful with a range of innovative sustainable projects proposed, which aims to raise the quality and standard of learning programmes, to enhance and support the learning experience.

Notification of successful and unsuccessful bids will be announced week beginning 24th November 2009.