National Skills Strategy

Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney has warmly welcomed the Government’s new National Skills Strategy “Skills for Growth” published today. He says the strategy marks a radical shift in Britain’s skills priorities:

“This Skills Strategy shows how we’ll make sure we’ve got the skills to power the new industries and jobs of the future. There are three key parts to the strategy: expanding by 35,000 the number of apprenticeships on offer to create a new class of skilled technicians; introducing Skills Accounts for all; and a radical simplification of the skills system.

“We would like fully three quarters of young people to participate either in higher education or an advanced apprenticeship or equivalent technician course by the age of 30.

We need engineers to lay the cables to expand access to a high-speed internet, skilled people to build the electric vehicles of the future, and technicians to develop the medicines that will save lives.

“This in an ambitious aim to equip people with skills needed to secure economic growth. It sets out a bold new ambition to create a modern technician class through expansion of advanced apprenticeships focussed on sectors that are vital to our economic future. It includes an Apprenticeship Scholarships Fund, with up to £1,000 for 1,000 of the best qualified apprentices entering higher education each year.

“The UK Commission for Employment and Skills recently recommended that we reduce the number of separate publicly funded agencies by over 30. We now aim to do just this. We intend to work with employers and trade unions, with Universities and F.E. Colleges and private training providers to develop skills of workforces in every sector.

I plan to focus especially on opportunities to promote low-carbon industries and “green collar” jobs. “This strategy empowers the further education system above all to compete to meet the needs of businesses and learners. This will put them right at the heart of the knowledge economy, at the heart of our recovery and our future prosperity.”

Lord Mandelson's Statement