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Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has set out his plan for how the city-region could take control of skills provision ahead of further devolution negotiations with government.
The city-region’s proposals look to build on existing initiatives in Greater Manchester, including the Adult Education Budget (AEB) and the Work & Health Programme, which saw the city-region take on responsibility for adult skills since August 2019 and welfare support before that. New plans calls for further devolution of the post-19 skills system, careers and employment support across the city-region, working alongside employers to guarantee people and businesses have the required skills and knowledge to grow the economy.
Greater Manchester will also push for further control in ensuring technical education has strong links to local demands across the city-region. Improvements would also be made to the all-age Greater Manchester Careers offer, giving Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) the power to co-ordinate all careers activity which would also support economic recovery.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said:
“Ever since Greater Manchester was handed control of the Adult Education Budget we have been able to have a better say on the training opportunities and skills provision for people across the city-region.
“As we begin to negotiate with Government on the next round of devolution, Greater Manchester is calling for further devolution of skills, including full devolution of the post-19 skills system and a stronger role in technical and professional education for 16–19-year-olds to make sure there is real connection and line of sight between the technical education offer and jobs in our labour market. We also want to make sure that the careers advice people receive – whether that’s young people starting out in their careers or adults who need advice about how to progress – connects them to good jobs across Greater Manchester.
“This would allow Greater Manchester to properly respond to the needs of all 10 of our boroughs, by providing training and upskilling people in local growth sectors where urgent skills boosts are needed, such as the digital industry and retrofitting.
“Devolving parts of the skills & work system has seen some real success, but it’s a job half done. There are still too many short-term, ring-fenced initiatives parachuted in, too much disconnect between skills and jobs, and not enough focus on whether those national policies and initiatives resonate with our labour market or do what’s needed on the ground. We have laid the foundation already in GM, with strong strategic partners such as colleges, providers and JCP that are working with us to align a system that is too complicated for our residents and businesses.
“Levelling up is about giving our people and our place the opportunities they deserve, but to do that we need the right tools. At the moment, some of those tools exist and we can see the difference they could make if used in the right ways, but they’re behind a closed door. Devolution can open that door, helping us unlock new opportunities for our residents, our communities and our businesses. Give us those tools: let us do the job, and hold us to account for how well we do it.”
Andy Haldane, Chief Executive of the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA), said:
“I’m always delighted to come to Greater Manchester, where real strides on devolution and levelling up have already been made. I know that Andy Burnham is keen to go further, building on the success of the devolution of the Adult Education Budget. This should bring more local control and accountability to creating the right skills base for the people and businesses in the region.
“I’m excited to see the progress and keen to see what more can be done. As the Levelling Up White Paper sets out, we need a fundamental shift in the way in which skills policy is designed and delivered, empowering both local leaders and individuals. We need an approach that supports people to realise their aspirations without having to leave their communities, and that ensures local employers have access to the skills they need to grow and thrive.”
Cllr Bev Craig, GMCA Lead for Education, Skills, Work, Apprenticeships and Digital, said:
“In Greater Manchester we have a growing, dynamic economy and we have ambitions for a world class integrated skills system to match it. We have a clear and focused insight into the skills need and opportunities in our economies, both now and in the years ahead, and a track record of delivery on adult skills.
“Our devolution ask to give us greater control of the post-19 skills system and better influence over the 16-19 system would enable us to tailor it to ensure that employers have the talent pool they need – and crucially that people in Greater Manchester have the skills and confidence to benefit from the thousands of new jobs created.”