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THREAD: A few thoughts on what we’ve seen on skills, and apprenticeships specifically, in the three main manifestos. Fundamentally, the focus on adult skills and apprenticeships is broadly positive.
There's a clear productivity argument for investing in skills, for businesses and the economy. And with c.85% of those earning below the living wage over the age of 25, we mustn’t forget how vital it is to give adults the opportunity for progression.
But, all the manifestos raise big q's for me.
The aspiration of a ‘Right to Retrain’from @Conservatives is reasonable. But without real care in implementation, it risks failing to address systemic barriers to progression and to those in low-skilled work accessing training – reinforcing the social injustice of unequal access.
The @UKLabour lifelong free entitlement cld address this more progressively, alongside a right to paid time off for education/training, as could @LibDems skills wallet. But without significant work to remove barriers, those who cld benefit the most wld be least likely to engage.
So much for ‘supply-side’ boosts to skills levels. @IPPR recommended that "improvements in skills levels must be complemented with action to increase employer demand for and utilization of skills in the workplace”. https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/skills-2030-another-lost-decade So what of the demand side?
Many, including @IPPR, have called for a more flexible skills levy, which ranges from an explicit commitment to a vague implication across the three manifestos. However, this has to be accompanied by a robust approach to funding and to quality, which seem to be absent.
For both @UKLabour and @LibDems, there’s a challenge in ring-fencing 25% of the levy for particular priorities (Climate Apprenticeships and the Social Mobility Fund respectively) whilst simultaneously expanding what the current levy can be spent on.
Without more government investment, raising the rate at which the levy is paid, or placing restrictions on its use - none of which is explicit - this places more pressure on a budget forecast to overspend and already restricting apprenticeship access for SMEs.
Conclusion: I’d make two calls across the board. 1) ensure skills policies are designed to reach those in greatest need of support to progress in work, and 2) be transparent about how to fund apprenticeships achieve their intended outcomes.
