Skills Wales’ Post

Latest from FE News: What is Skills England and what does it mean for the skills sector?: The new Labour government have announced the creation of Skills England, a new body to bring together central and local government, businesses, training providers and… What is Skills England and what does it mean for the skills sector? was published on FE News by First Intuition #SkillsandApprenticeshipsNewsandInsights Read more here:

In a recent address at the AELP Autumn Conference, Skills Minister Jacqui Smith detailed the government's comprehensive plan to revitalize England's skills landscape. Central to this initiative is establishing Skills England, a body aimed at unifying the fragmented skills system and aligning training with employer needs. Key highlights for the skills reform's vision: 👉 The creation of Skills England aims to streamline the skills system and ensure training aligns with employer requirements. 👉 A focus on lifelong learning to emphasise the importance of continuous education to adapt to evolving job markets. 👉 Encourage businesses to actively participate in shaping training programs to meet industry standards. These reforms are designed to address current skills shortages and prepare the workforce for future challenges, aiming to stimulate economic growth and innovation. For a detailed overview, read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eaMBZFHq Department for Education #skills #lifelonglearning #education

📊 New Report: "Making Skills Work" Calls for Revival of Skills Councils Our Patron Sponsor, City & Guilds, and the Lifelong Education Institute have released a timely report on reforming UK skills policy through Skills England. Key takeaways: 🔄 Skills England is "not a new idea" but follows a long tradition of government input into skills development 🏗️ Recommendation to revive Sector Skills Councils alongside Skills England 🎯 Focus on ending the "wasteful cycle of policy churn, duplication, and reinvention" 💼 Call for a diverse board representing government, business, education, learners, and workers 💡 "We have a once in a generation opportunity to clean the slate of skills policy for good and create a holistic, long-term strategy for uplifting our economy through skills provision that works." - Kirstie Donnelly, MBE, CEO of City & Guilds 🔑 Other recommendations include: 🔸 Clearly defined roles to avoid overlap with existing bodies 🔸 Funding powers to address specific needs 🔸 Qualification reform focused on productivity What are your thoughts on these recommendations? How can we best address the UK's skills gap and boost productivity? #SkillsDevelopment #UKEconomy #Productivity #earnandlearn #WorkforceTraining

The UK Government’s Skills England is consulting priority sectors on the scope of the new Growth and Skills Levy, aiming to fund non-apprenticeship training in key industries like clean energy, health care, and advanced manufacturing. This engagement aligns with the government’s industrial strategy and highlights the importance of tailored workforce development. The consultation results, expected in early 2025, will shape the levy’s implementation and workforce planning across high-growth areas. Here's what our CEO, Dr Fiona Aldridge had to say when asked for comment: "We welcome Skills England’s intention to consult with employers and other key organisations to provide a view on what training should be available through the growth and skills levy – and would encourage the government to be proactive in reaching out to all those who can usefully inform this work. It is helpful to see that the consultation includes construction and health and social care, alongside the Industrial Strategy’s eight growth-driving sectors, given that they account for nearly 20 per cent of jobs across the economy and are integral to achieving the government’s missions.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eJ-V9XZ8 #keysectors #consultation #cleanenergy #healthcare #advancedmanufacturing

Good to see news today that Skills England is looking to consult with employers and other organisations to provide a view on what training should be available through the growth and skills levy. At Skills Federation (aka FISSS), we believe that it is important that the consultation includes Sector Skills Bodies who have extensive labour market information and insight into the skills requirements of their industries and will be able to support DfE in providing an evidence-based view on priorities. I’m pleased to see that this includes construction and health and social care - alongside the Industrial Strategy’s eight growth-driving sectors - given that they account for nearly 20 per cent of jobs across the economy and are integral to achieving the government’s missions. To find out more, check out this FE Week piece https://lnkd.in/enU5wHd6

In the UK employers' skills needs are not being met by employees, creating a skills gap which is growing. Read more in our recent blog about the project Kings Business School undertook with Edge exploring government policies to encourage employers to invest in skills training. Here are their thoughts on the project... https://lnkd.in/ezTtGjsV

Skills England is set to drive positive change across education, training, and hiring in the UK, and I’m thrilled to see our CEO, Riaz Moola, share his insights in this article. Here’s how Skills England could be a game-changer: 🔍 Shift Towards Skills-Based Hiring: Emphasising skills over traditional qualifications can better equip individuals for modern jobs, driving both personal and economic growth. 💻 Empowering Educational Technology: Greater investment in ed-tech can help bridge the gap between current skills shortages and future workforce needs, ensuring the UK remains competitive on a global scale. 🤝 Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships: By fostering collaborations between the public and private sectors, we can more effectively implement skills development policies, improving employment rates and fostering innovation. 🌱 Anticipating Future Skills Needs: It's crucial to not only address current skill gaps but also anticipate the skills needed for future roles, ensuring long-term economic resilience. 🎓 Promoting Equity and Access in Training: Ensuring that everyone, from new graduates to seasoned professionals, has access to skills training is essential for driving social mobility and creating a more inclusive workforce. Let’s work together to make the most of this opportunity for positive change in our education and training systems! https://lnkd.in/ekAbygVJ #SkillsEngland #SkillsDevelopment #EdTech #FutureOfWork #HyperionDev