The Post-16 White Paper: Potential for Businesses
Last week's white paper comes as Make UK's latest research shows that three-quarters of manufacturers struggle to fill vacancies due to skills shortages.
In common with the industrial strategy published earlier in the year, much of last week's white paper's diagnosis of the post-16 education and skills system in England is accurate and recognisable to manufacturers.
Firm commitments on funding for further education, investment in equipment, and teacher recruitment and retention through initiatives such as an industry workforce exchange reflect challenges businesses face when sourcing local training and will help to address them.
The clear statement that public investment – including the growth and skills levy – should be tied to the eight growth-driving sectors of the industrial strategy should focus the government on significantly increasing apprenticeship training.
Author's summary: White paper addresses skills shortages.