On 22 May 2020, Gillian Keegan MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department for Education, responded to a written question on what steps the Government are taking to ensure that people have the skills needed for future roles, and what steps the Government are taking to re-skill people to meet the economic needs of the UK.
In her answer, Gillian Keegan noted that the Government are in the process of delivering a long-term programme to reform the post-16 skills system. The Secretary of State for Education has also announced that they are working on a White Paper to deliver reform in the further education sector.
Gillian Keegan also referenced the introduction of T-Levels from September 2020 and the National Skills Fund.
The full written question can be found below:
Skilled Workers
Department for Education
22 May 2020
Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to help ensure that people have the skills they need for future roles; and what steps he is taking to re-skill people who do not have skills to meet the economic requirements of the UK.
Gillian Keegan: We are delivering a long-term programme to reform the post-16 skills system to address national and local productivity challenges, ensuring that businesses and individuals have the skills they need to meet the needs of the new economy. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education has also announced that we are working on a White Paper that will deliver ambitious reform in our vital further education sector.
These reforms include involving employers in the design of new apprenticeship standards to ensure they are more responsive to their needs. 74% of new starts in 2019/20 so far are on standards (rather than frameworks) and the switch-off of frameworks is going ahead on the 31 July.
We are also Introducing T-Levels from this September. Designed by employers, with longer teaching hours and meaningful industry placements, T-Levels will be excellent preparation for skilled work or further training. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, we are continuing with introduction in September as planned. Additionally, the Adult Education Budget will fully fund or co-fund skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3 (including traineeships), to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning. Over the course of this Parliament, we are providing £2.5 billion (£3 billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations) for a new National Skills Fund to help people learn new skills and prepare for the economy of the future.