On 20^th Oct the Department for Education (with others) published this document outlining future skills policy and new V levels to sit alongside A levels and T Levels in key sectors such as engineering.

Download the paper here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/post-16-education-and-skills-white-paper

The RACHP industry will need to consider what these changes mean for our work to promote skills and careers to ensure sufficient supply of well trained new entrants to our sector.  IOR education committee members are digesting the content and what this means for the revisions needed to our apprenticeships and support required for the delivery network. 

A couple of quotes from the summary..

“We know that our businesses need more skilled workers. Skills shortage vacancies make up over a quarter of all vacancies (27% in 2024 compared to 22% in 2017).2 The most proactive employers see this as an opportunity, investing to upskill their workforce and partnering with colleges and universities to develop talent pipelines so they can respond quickly to emerging and changing skills needs. The introduction of short courses within the Growth and Skills Levy will provide an additional way for employers to provide their staff with some of the key knowledge and skills needed for their businesses, in a faster and more agile way than enrolling staff in a full apprenticeship. Skills England will bring greater coherence to the overall skills offer, making the skills system clearer and easier for employers to navigate. It will work with businesses to determine what the priorities for their sector should be and how to boost investment in them"

"Our best colleges and universities are world leading. But there is a risk that parts of the sector fall behind, driven by pockets of weak practice, ongoing workforce challenges, and financially unsustainable operating models. In further education we will accelerate the standards revolution we have already started – raising the bar on quality, with clear pathways that provide simplicity and clarity, backed by excellent delivery, so that students have the same access to opportunities as their peers in school sixth forms. We will hold the sector to account for delivering on this ambitious vision, whilst ensuring that they have the support needed to do so. To ensure young people are aware of the full range of opportunities, we are improving careers advice in schools and colleges and introducing 2 weeks’ worth of work experience throughout a young person’s secondary education.”