NEW SKILLS BILL TO TRANSFORM SKILLS AND TRAINING, LEVELLING UP OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

The Skills and post-16 Education Bill will be introduced in Parliament today (18 May), underpinning the government’s skills and training revolution.

The Skills Bill was mentioned during the Queen’s Speech last week and today FE News has an exclusive article from Gavin Williamson outlining his vision to put skills at the top of an ambitious legislative agenda, to transform the education landscape in this country.

The full FE News artcile can be viewed here

Dr Deirdre Hughes OBE from DMH Associates comments:

“The new Skills Bill launch sets out government priorities, including a skills “revolution” in the form of flexible loans and a promise to strengthen jobs. Perhaps the time has come to realise you can’t ‘level up’ by simply offering more FE or training courses (though greatly needed and much appreciated). This has to be accompanied by clear signposting to high-quality careers support for young people and adults to help them make successful and sustainable progress in learning and work. The wicked question that needs to be addressed: ‘Where are the highly visible places and spaces for careers support in England?

“I welcome the intention to drive up opportunities and reduce ethnic disparities, particularly pay gaps. More specialist trained careers advisers and coaches will be essential across England, as part of a triage system that puts local people’s needs first. If government commits to invest in practitioners and their skills in the complementary worlds of careers guidance and public employment services (PES), then we are in with a chance to make the lifetime skills guarantee and personalised guidance work for all.”