- People across the country are set to benefit from more skills training that will help them launch careers in key industries, including in the growing green sector.
- £200m will support local areas to offer more high-quality training opportunities to meet local skills needs, including apprenticeships and Higher Technical Qualifications.
- Part of government drive to get more people into good jobs close to home, plug skills gaps and grow the economy.
People seeking careers in growing sectors such as green energy, digital and construction will be able to access improved skills training, helping them secure good jobs closer to home.
More than £200 million has been announced to support colleges and universities to offer more training opportunities in key industries, such as the growing green sector. Investment is being targeted to address the specific skills needs of each region, which local businesses and employers have identified as priority sectors in their Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs), giving them access to the skilled workforce they need to grow.
Paul Britton, CEO, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce said: “Skills and workforce development are important to everyone’s business and that is why Chambers of Commerce are bringing business and training providers and educators together.
“The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Thames Valley Skills Unit is responsible for Berkshire and Oxfordshire and the crucial factor is that LSIPs are employer-led and locally owned. We have been able to use our reach to speak to over 1000 businesses and our aim remains to ensure that investment in skills – by government, employers, training providers, careers services and individuals – is properly aligned to achieve the best outcomes for everyone.
“We welcome this announcement and by continuing to bring employers and training providers together locally to identify solutions and plan for change, means we can make education and skills provision more responsive to the changing needs of our businesses and the local economy”.
Gillian May, Principal, The Windsor Forest Colleges Group said: “We are thrilled to have been awarded a substantial investment in Windsor College. This investment signifies a pivotal moment for the advancement of training within the screen industries as we embark on a transformative journey that will reshape skills training for both young people at the start of their career and those seeking to upskill. Aligned with the government’s commitment to fostering talent and addressing critical skills gaps, this funding will elevate Windsor College to a hub of excellence for the screen industries. This forward-looking approach will ensure that employers and students can access top-tier training, securing fulfilling employment in our local communities.
We extend our gratitude to Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and our employer partners for their support and insights and their dedication on this employer-led initiative. This investment represents more than a financial commitment; it embodies a strategic vision to futureproof our economy and empower the next generation with essential skills for success”.
Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Businesses are crying out for more people with technical skills to fill the great jobs we have today and new ones in the developing green economy. It’s vital that everyone can access the training they need locally to grasp these opportunities.
“Business-led LSIPs are setting out the skills needs and opportunities, and this new funding will ensure the right training solutions are put in place.”
As part of the government’s work to support more people to gain the skills they need to secure rewarding careers, the British Chambers of Commerce and other employer representative organisations were commissioned to lead work to develop local skills improvement plans, published in the summer, so the training on offer better meets the current and future skills needs of local areas.
The investment in local areas is just one way the government is boosting skills, alongside a huge range of other high-quality programmes including T levels, free courses for jobs and Skills Bootcamps.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said: “This investment is about boosting local industries, building people’s skills and ultimately futureproofing our economy and the career prospects of the next generation.
Our local skills projects will bring together regional organisations, businesses and education providers to respond to the specific needs of employers, building an increasingly skilled workforce and growing local economies.
Whether it is green skills, construction, engineering or digital, thousands more people can now gain the skills they need to secure good jobs closer to home. These are long-term plans that will ensure every area can have a brighter future.”
