Skills England could turn the tide on employer under-investment in skills but must be responsive to employer needs, says CIPD

Further to the UK Government’s launch of Skills England today, Lizzie Crowley, skills adviser for the CIPD, the professional body for HR and people development comments:

“The creation of Skills England will be key to understanding the UK’s skills priorities and setting an overall strategy. Ensuring that we have the right skills, in the right place, at the right time is essential to unlocking UK wide productivity and growth.

“There’s a clear and urgent need to connect and simplify the UK’s fragmented and complex skills landscape. The new agency must also join up policy across the government’s industrial strategy, the migration advisory committee and local skills and growth priorities. This is no easy task. It’s a challenging road ahead but it’s vital that the government sees this as a long-term project that can finally bring stability and certainty to the skills agenda.

“A key focus for Skills England must be on unlocking apprenticeship opportunities for young people and reversing the decline in take up among small businesses in recent years.

“When looking at the new Growth and Skills Levy it will be vital to consider how this will work in practice. The new levy must encourage employers to invest more in training that will address workforce skills gaps and shortages and boost apprenticeship opportunities for young people. Getting this balance right will be essential to reversing the collapse in employer investment in apprenticeships and training in recent years.”