Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Retraining and Upskilling

Tuesday 27 April 2021 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 5 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is tripling the number of traineeships and expanding sector-based work academies to support retraining and upskilling.
  • The lifetime skills guarantee aims to provide free advanced technical courses and digital skills bootcamps, helping over 10 million adults gain level 3 qualifications.
  • A 7 million fund has been announced to create and expand flexi-job apprenticeship schemes, particularly for high-end manufacturing industries.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marco Longhi
Economy Employment
Context

The questioner inquires about steps to support retraining and upskilling of workers, citing the economic impact on communities.

Question

What fiscal steps is his Department taking to support (a) retraining and (b) upskilling of workers?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Our plan for jobs supports retraining and upskilling by tripling the number of traineeships, expanding sector-based work academies, incentivising apprenticeship hiring, providing funding for new, free, advanced technical courses and digital skills bootcamps under the lifetime skills guarantee.

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Q2 Gary Sambrook
Economy Employment
Context

The questioner refers to the economic impact of MG Rover collapse in Birmingham, Northfield. He asks about the lifetime skills guarantee's role in boosting employability.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the lifetime skills guarantee will help adults train and retrain for better job security post-lockdown?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Over 10 million adults lack a level 3 qualification; thanks to the Government's lifetime skills guarantee, they will get one, boosting employability and earnings.

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Q3 Alexander Stafford
Education Employment
Context

The questioner queries about flexi-job apprenticeships, specifically for Rother Valley's high-end manufacturing industries.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the new flexi-job apprenticeships will create opportunities in key sectors like high-end manufacturing?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

My hon. Friend makes an important point; we announced a £7 million fund to create and expand flexi-job apprenticeship schemes, particularly for industries like high-end manufacturing.

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Q4 Jamie Wallis
Employment
Context

The questioner highlights the impact of the pandemic on young people and seeks support measures to help them get back into work.

Question

What support is being put in place to help young people get back into work and boost opportunities?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

More than half of jobs lost since the start of the pandemic were by those under 25; we created the kickstart programme to create hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country, including in Bridgend.

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Q5 Marco Longhi
Business & Trade
Context

The questioner references the importance of SMEs in Dudley North and asks about improving engagement with them in designing apprenticeship schemes.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend commit to working with colleagues and business to improve engagement with SMEs in designing and funding apprenticeship schemes at foundation level 2?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Starting this August, we are implementing a new scheme to allow SMEs to link with larger businesses through a matching service that will help them access funding for level 2 or 3 apprenticeships.

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