Employers who wish to develop their own training programmes will be invited to bid directly for the funding under the two-year scheme, which will be launched in early 2012 and will be open to proposals from businesses of all sizes and sectors.

Funding for the first year of the initiative will be up to £50m, with an additional £200m in the second year, subject to ongoing evaluation and the strength of proposals from employers.

Bids will need to demonstrate what the business intends to invest in its training programme and show a commitment to raising skill levels in its sector or supply chain.

Mark Snee, managing director of Technoprint, said: "It seems that employers will be able to say what they think their apprentices or employees need to learn, but in an industry like print, which is made up mainly of SME’s, there is a great deal of merit in having common standards.

"The great danger is that you will get people who don’t have the full complement of skills and only have what one employer wanted them to achieve. A better idea would be for employers to be given tax credits for getting an apprentice or employee through a recognised qualification."

Business secretary Vince Cable said: "We have to fundamentally alter the relationship between employers and the state – giving employers the space and opportunity for greater ownership of the vocational skills agenda, including the chance to bid for direct control of public funds. This will encourage greater competition in the market as we strive for sustainable growth."

A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills said that a prospectus for the scheme is expected to be launched in February.