Government Promises 120,000 New Training Opportunities to Address Skills Gap and Cut Net Migration

The Government has committed to providing 120,000 new training opportunities for workers in England, including construction, engineering, healthcare, and other trades, in an effort to boost the skills of the UK workforce and reduce net migration. This move comes as part of a broader effort to address the skills gap and provide opportunities for young people to learn a trade and earn a wage. The new training opportunities are expected to be funded by hiking the charge paid by employers for bringing in foreign workers by a third, which will generate up to £45,000 in funding for training places.

Key Takeaways:

• The Government has promised 120,000 new training opportunities for workers in England, including construction, engineering, healthcare, and other trades.
• The new training opportunities are expected to be funded by hiking the charge paid by employers for bringing in foreign workers by a third, generating up to £45,000 in funding for training places.
• The apprenticeship budget for 2025-26 is over £3 billion, with an extra 30,000 apprenticeship starts across the current Parliament.
• Funding will be shifted away from masters-level apprenticeships to focus on training at lower levels, including support for those aged 16-21 and existing apprentices.
• The move is expected to provide opportunities for young people to learn a trade and earn a wage, with a focus on addressing the skills gap and providing routes into employment.
• The Government's plans are part of a broader effort to reduce net migration and address the challenges of youth unemployment and inactivity.

Statistics:

• 120,000 new training opportunities will be provided for workers in England.
• The apprenticeship budget for 2025-26 is over £3 billion.
• Up to £45,000 will be generated in funding for training places by hiking the charge paid by employers.
• 30,000 extra apprenticeship starts will be achieved across the current Parliament.
• One-in-eight 16-24 year-olds are not in education, employment or training.
• Participation among under-25s in apprenticeships has declined in recent years.

Sources:

• "Tens of thousands of apprenticeships and training opportunities have been promised as part of the Government's effort to increase workers' skills and cut net migration" (The Telegraph)
• The immigration White Paper (published earlier this month) [no date]
• Youth Futures Foundation report [no date]
• The Law Society press release [no date]
• Shadow education minister Neil O'Brien's statement (no date)