New training and apprenticeship opportunities for British workers are set to be created as part of the government’s ‘modern industrial strategy’.
The skills investment of more than £275m is expected to help train thousands more workers by 2029, including civil and mechanical engineers.
The funding will support further education providers to deliver new facilities, equipment, and technical qualifications, as well as facilitating collaboration with other training providers and employers across the country.
According to business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the skills investment and wider industrial strategy will help to address the UK’s reliance on foreign workers.
“To make Britain the best place in the world to do business, we also need the best workforce in the world with the right skills and expertise to thrive,” he said.
“Our modern industrial strategy will be powered by investing in British people. It will help transform our skills system to end the overreliance on foreign labour, and ensure British workers can secure good, well-paid jobs in the industries of tomorrow and drive growth and investment right across the country, making our Plan for Change a reality.”
The funding package revealed today forms part of the government’s wider skills reforms.
Last month, education secretary Bridget Phillipson announced plans to refocus funding away from Level 7 (masters level) apprenticeships, as well as pledging to create 120,000 new training opportunities, supported by a £3bn apprenticeship budget.
