Skills for jobs: lifelong learning for opportunity and growth
Author
Ann Watson
Chief Executive of Enginuity
Date
21/01/2021
Categories
Enginuity news, Industry news, Policy updates
A highly skilled workforce has never been more crucial at a time when jobs across engineering and manufacturing are responding to the pace of industrial digitalisation
Radical reform is needed now – and has to be sustained and supported from all sides. In response to the newly released white paper from Gov.UK, which sets out reforms to post-16 technical education and training to support people to develop the skills needed to get good jobs and improve national productivity.
Enginuity is already bridging the gap between education and industry. Our work on the National Manufacturing Skills Taskforce means we are perfectly placed to catalyse the change needed. The Taskforce is bringing together employers and trade unions from across the sector to ensure that qualifications and training meet employers’ and individuals’ needs.
Engineering and manufacturing will be key to our nation’s economic prosperity and success over the next decade. The White Paper offers the promise to link employer need for a highly skilled workforce through upskilling and reskilling with appropriate training bridging the divide between access and disadvantage.
The new focus on lifelong learning and the shift towards modular provision are especially important to engineering and manufacturing.
We need to generate the creativity, innovation and critical thinking skills for jobs to enable business to grow sustainably.
In engineering and manufacturing, employers have been shaping the standards which underpin technical education and apprenticeships for many years. As technology continues to develop, Enginuity stands ready to provide the insight needed to ensure that the skills system delivers the skills needed not just for today, but for the future.
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