Low carbon skills crucial to levelling up the UK

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s announcement of reforming post-18 education and training, Ana Musat, Policy Manager at the Aldersgate Group, said: “We warmly welcome today’s announcement which sets out plans to support lifelong learning and retraining for adults in the UK. Investing in skills is crucial to the economic recovery and ensuring that the opportunities from a transition to a net zero emissions economy are spread across the country. The new Lifetime Skill Guarantee can contribute to tackling rising social inequalities, and increased funding for apprenticeships can provide SMEs with much needed support and flexibility to attract the required talent. The Government should also focus on boosting the supply of the skills that are required to meet the UK’s net zero target and closing existing skills gaps in key sectors including construction and heavy industry. This will require a joined-up approach between private sector, national government and education institutions to provide the UK workforce with the skills of the future.”

Ana Musat added: “As we argue in our upcoming skills briefing [1], a comprehensive focus on developing the right skills across key economic sectors will be essential. Government, business and the education system need to collaborate to ensure an adequate skills provision, and today’s measures must be accompanied by a net zero delivery plan that sends clear market signals to businesses and grows demand for the skills of the future [2]. Engaging with Local Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, SMEs and local education providers can ensure that investment in skills is matched to local specialism, putting all areas of the UK in a strong position to seize these opportunities.”