FAS is to create 700 extra places on its software, computing and electronics training courses to meet increasing demand from industry this year. The need for extra places was identified in a report by the Export Group on Future Skills and will bring the total number of places to 1,700 by 1999.

FAS had planned to increase the number of trainees completing software and computing courses from 415 last year to 704 by 1999, and the numbers completing electronics courses from 170 to 301 over the same period, a total increase of 420.

Under the new programme, still to be announced, a further 683 trainees will complete software and computing courses in 1999 and a further 54 will be added to the electronics course, making a total of 737 extra places. In other words the total numbers on these courses will treble from 585 last year to 1,742 in 1999.

The average cost of training will be £4,200 per trainee, plus a once-off capital investment of £800,000. The programmes will last six to nine months. FAS is concentrating on offering practical skills for people entering the industry as junior programmers, software testers and network technicians. A study by FAS found that while many companies require a core of third level students they also need staff with less formal qualifications.

Successful FAS trainees will receive FAS/City and Guilds certificates.