283m skills investment branded "too little, too late" as business leaders warn of deeper problems

"Ministers say the funding will help more young people gain the skills needed to meet growing demand for homegrown workers, particularly in construction, as the government pushes ahead with its ambition to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current Parliament. Around £100 million of the package will be channelled to metro mayors and local leaders to expand capacity in construction courses at further education colleges, easing long waiting lists and supporting a target of training an additional 60,000 construction workers."

"The problems we have are now, not in 2028 or 2030. There has been too much focus on being world-beating in everything except developing homegrown talent in our own children. Apprenticeships are rare, employers are under huge cost pressure and are often too stretched to train young people. Schemes such as the old YTS across all trades should be paramount to get our children into the workplace. The economy is on a knife-edge, there is no time to wait."

A £283 million funding package aims to train builders, coders and engineers to meet rising demand for domestic workers and support a target of 1.5 million new homes this Parliament. Approximately £100 million will be allocated to metro mayors and local leaders to expand construction course capacity at further education colleges, targeting an additional 60,000 construction trainees. The remaining funds will increase overall college capacity ahead of an expected 67,000 extra 16- and 17-year-olds entering post-16 education by 2028. Business leaders and commentators warn the sum is too small and too late to address immediate skills shortages and structural economic issues.

Read at Business Matters