DfE releases Skills for jobs whitepaper

Last updated: 21 Jan 2021

DfE released the Skills for jobs: lifelong learning for opportunity and growth policy paper today. It follows the review into post-18 education and funding. The whitepaper outlines changes to post-16 technical education and training that will enable people to achieve the skills they need to improve their employability.

The main aims of the paper are:

  • Institutes of Technology to increase higher level STEM skills through collaboration - with a clear route to high-skilled employment focusing on STEM skills in areas like advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, digital, and life sciences.
  • Reform of higher technical education (levels 4 and 5) – support for providers to expand their high-quality higher technical education provision.
  • Provide Lifelong Loan Entitlement - this will provide individuals with a loan entitlement to the equivalent of four years’ worth of post-18 education for modules at higher technical and degree levels (levels 4 to 6).

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

“Our reforms to post-16 education will focus on the skills people and business need for our economy to grow.  As we recover from the pandemic, our Lifetime Skills Guarantee will ensure everyone has the confidence and opportunity to gain the skills they need to progress at any stage of their lives.

“These reforms are at the heart of our plans to build back better, ensuring all technical education and training is based on what employers want and need, whilst providing individuals with the training they need to get a well-paid and secure job, no matter where they live, and in the sectors that are critical to our future economic success.”

You can see the full white paper on GOV.UK.