New government body announced to simplify skills landscape in England

The Prime Minister and Education Secretary have jointly announced the launch of a new body, Skills England, to bring together aspects of the skills and training landscape under a single body.

Richard Pennycook CBE, former chief executive of the Co-operative Group and lead non-executive director at the DfE, has also been announced as the interim Chair.

Skills England will bring together central and local government, businesses, training providers and unions to meet the skills needs of the next decade across all regions, providing strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system. It will also work with the Migration Advisory Committee to help reduce reliance on overseas workers.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:??

“The skills system we inherited is fragmented and broken. Employers want to invest in their workers but for too long have been held back from accessing the training they need.??

“Skills England will jumpstart young people’s careers and galvanise local economies. It will bring businesses together with trade unions, mayors, universities, colleges and training providers to give us a complete picture of skills gaps nationwide, boost growth in all corners of the country and give people the opportunity to get on in life.”

Skills England will identify the training for which the growth and skills levy will be accessible – an important reform, giving businesses more flexibility to spend levy funds on training for the skills they need, which employers have long been calling for.??

The organisation will be established in phases over the next 9-12 months to create a responsive and collaborative skills system, first as a shadow organisation within the Department for Education.?

The Skills England Bill will also see the transfer functions from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) to Skills England. This sits alongside work to simplify and devolve adult education budgets to Mayoral Combined Authorities to ensure that they can address their adult skills needs directly and support growth in their areas.??