Key Facts

• Mayoral combined authorities and the Greater London Authority play vital roles in supporting local communities, developing economies, and strengthening skills systems.
• A duty is placed on the Secretary of State to approve and publish a local skills improvement plan based on consideration of relevant mayoral combined authority or Greater London Authority views during development.
• Further details will be set out in statutory guidance informed by ongoing engagement with stakeholders.
• Labour Government's investment in skills under previous administrations was greater than during the past 11 years.
• Apprenticeship levy led to a reduction in the number of apprenticeships.
• Previous Skills Ministers and Chancellors have made similar claims about placing employers at the heart of the skills strategy.
• The statement addresses the view that university education is not valuable for skills development.
• Toby Perkins argues against framing further education and higher education as opposing sectors.
• Andrew Gwynne mentions the importance of vocational higher education qualifications.
• Government amendment 5 is criticized for initially excluding metro mayors and combined authorities.
• Labour proposes a holistic approach involving public and private sector employers, further education colleges, and independent training providers.
• The MP questions the centralisation agenda of the Bill and seeks protections for existing funding arrangements with metro Mayors.
• The Bill aims to involve local businesses in shaping the curriculum of further education colleges.
• Devolution has led to more involvement of mayoral combined authorities in skills improvement plans.
• Greater Manchester's adult education budget was devolved, leading to strategies like 'Greater Manchester Skills for Growth' and 'Bridge GM'.
• Amendment 4 removes subsection (6) on future issues around climate change and environmental goals.
• Andrew Gwynne highlights the link between skills agenda and industrial strategy.
• Toby Perkins criticizes the government's approach as moving towards a German-style skills system but with reluctance to implement it fully.
• Ben Bradley raises concerns about safeguards for skills plans in areas without combined authorities.
• The Local Government Association has expressed concerns about an integrated, place-based approach to skills reforms.
• Matt Western raised issues regarding devolution and centralisation of powers in Whitehall.
• Emma Hardy provided a concrete example from Hull illustrating the complexity of local governance structures.
• Government amendment 4 requires the Secretary of State to have regard to clause 1(6) and (6A) when approving and publishing a plan.
• Subsections (6)(b) and (6)(c) will not stand part of the Bill, but section 1 of the Climate Change Act 2008 is still considered important.
• The amendment keeps all of clause 1(6), including paragraphs (a), (b), and (c).
• Amendment 6 removes specific references to further education providers and other consultees.
• Clause 1 places duties on relevant providers to co-operate with employer representative bodies.
• The amendments reverse a Lords amendment made at Report stage.
• The amendments seek to reduce partnership working between education providers and local employer organizations.
• Concerns are raised about how chambers of commerce will address the specific needs of people with disabilities or special educational plans.
• Government amendment 7 leaves out references to further education providers, community learning providers, designated institutions, and universities.
• Toby Perkins expresses concerns about small businesses' access to apprenticeships since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy.
• Government amendment 9 removes references to 'other local bodies' from clause concerning post-16 technical education.
• Rachel Hopkins supports retaining amendments introduced in the House of Lords that allow for collaboration between LSIPs and other agencies.
• The University of Bedfordshire has a new STEM building providing industry-standard training.
• Luton Sixth Form College offers BTEC courses in health and social care.
• Warwickshire College Group is one of the sixth largest colleges in the country.
• The Local Government Association believes that the reforms need to be implemented as part of an integrated, place-based approach.
• The government amendment agreed by the Committee removes a role for mayoral combined authorities.
• Subsection (7)(b)(ii) refers to regional and local authorities, including Mayoral Combined Authorities, with specific reference to their published plans and strategies.
• Post-16 education providers active in the specified area are excluded from deliberations on skills plans.
• The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre was developed through collaboration between universities, local authorities, and businesses.
• Graphene development at the University of Manchester exemplifies successful academic-industry partnerships.
• Amendment 7 aims to remove references to non-employer bodies in local skills planning.
• £17 million has been invested for upskilling in the heavy goods vehicle sector.
• The Bill mandates that local skills improvement plans consider national skills priorities.
• Amendment 1 inserts language requiring LSIPs to consider views of relevant community groups, including disabled people.
• Amendments 2 and 28 aim to ensure LSIPs identify actions reducing the disability employment gap.
• Amendment 34 requires listing specific strategies for learners with special educational needs or health care plans into employment.