Mr. Andrew Jones highlighted the critical role of colleges in providing skills for the economy, mentioning that over 1.6 million students are educated at colleges in England annually. He emphasised the importance of links between colleges and local employers to meet future skill demands and praised recent initiatives like the inclusion of apprenticeships on UCAS. Mr. Jones also celebrated a £20 million development project at Harrogate College, funded by the Department for Education's further education capital transformation fund, which will replace the main building with state-of-the-art facilities focusing on renewable energy skills.

The Member praised the Heart of Worcestershire College and Worcester Sixth Form College for their work, highlighted the importance of comparing like with like in apprenticeships, and commended the Education Committee's report on post-16 qualifications. He acknowledged the challenges mentioned by the Labour representative regarding apprenticeship completion rates and funding cuts.

Praised the importance of further education and acknowledged the work done by colleges across the country, highlighting their role in meeting local skills needs. She also noted the decline in apprenticeship starts since 2017 and called for improved engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises. The Member challenged the Minister on the fall in apprenticeships starts, highlighting employer fatigue due to difficulties with the current system. She argued that Labour's proposed reform would not significantly change how most employers use their levy but could make a difference for those returning unspent funds to the Treasury. The speaker thanked the Minister but expressed concern that he does not fully understand Labour's policy on the growth and skills levy. She pointed out that this opportunity to spend more on modular courses and flexible learning could reduce early ending of apprenticeships, where completion targets are not being met.