Cover Feature | Education & Skills

“It is one of the fundamental differences the independent training sector faces from FE colleges and schools that our sector is not eligible for grants and subsidies to aid staff recruitment, retention or to offset increased costs. Yet our work is as vital to the economy. But on the flip side, we welcome the focus being given to skills gaps here in the county and across the country.”

Graham says they welcome the Government announcements around economic growth, housebuilding, infrastructure projects, progressing a greener economy and devolution.

“Importantly, the Government has also acknowledged that there are skills gaps in the labour market which, unless addressed, will limit success of its economic growth plans,” he adds.

“So, this is a good start. The formation of Skills England has potential to make a difference but in our view its success will be inhibited if it does not build cross-Government collaboration and inter-department strategy.

“We encourage the Government to be careful when it comes to devolution because some skills gaps are national and are best addressed at that level. We see it most obviously in transport and logistics and HGV driver training. Right now, 75 per cent of our HGV Skills Bootcamp learners are securing work in the sector showing there is demand for them. We know that high proportions of HGV drivers aged 50 and higher are stepping away from the role so we must ensure skills gaps include higher than usual rates of employee churn, particularly in key economic sectors such as transport and logistics.

“Right now, we are focused on two things. First is to maintain quality and performance. We are currently one of the highest performing providers nationally of HGV Skills Bootcamps, achieving 75 per cent job outcomes. In 2023, Ofsted judged our Adult Learning Programmes to be Outstanding. So, we know we are getting this aspect right.

“And second, we are actively inviting local commercial training providers to join us in a new skills partnership. Across the county and the country, there are excellent local commercial training providers embedded within their communities, with specialist facilities, teaching skills and experience in training adults in for example green construction skills. We believe they need to be part of helping address the identified skills gaps and we invite them to get in touch with us.”