Skills for transport manufacturing

Transport Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 22 Jul 2025 Parliament page
The UK has a long tradition of manufacturing motor vehicles, buses, aeroplanes, trains, and ships, but manufacturers in the transport industries are concerned about skills shortages. These industries are integral to the economic health of the communities they are based in, and they provide high-quality, British-built equipment for companies here … Read more
10 Recommendations
6 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
1 Letter
2 Events
Activity timeline 7 events
5 May
2026
Report published
28 Jan
2026
Report published
5 Nov
2025
Oral evidence
5 Nov
2025
Correspondence
5 Nov
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
22 Oct
2025
Oral evidence
22 Oct
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
5 Nov 2025
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Alan Krikorian · Department of Work and Pensions Eddie Dempsey · National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT) Lilian Greenwood MP · Department for Transport Mr John McGookin · Unite the Union Rebecca Schapira · Department for Business and Trade Sarah Maclean CBE · Skills England
22 Oct 2025
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Balaji Srimoolanathan · ADS Group Ltd Dr Benjamin Silverstone · Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick Jamie Cater · Make UK Matthew Ogg · Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Oriel Petry · Airbus Professor Chris Brace · University of Bath (IAAPS + Institute of Coding) Tom Chant MBE · Society of Maritime Industries
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - Engine for growth: securing skills for transport ma… HC 1223 28 Jan 2026 16 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
6 results
Clear
3 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Engine for growth: se…
Mandate regular meetings between Transport Secretary and counterparts; expedite procurement response to support British manufacturers.
The Secretary of State for Transport should meet regularly with her counterparts in the Departments for Business and Trade, Education and Skills, Work and Pensions, Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Cabinet Office with a focus on how the … Read more
Government Response
The Government highlights work with Skills England to ensure the offer meets business needs, delivers value for money and supports economic growth, and states they are launching the first eight apprenticeship units from April 2026, focussing on priority sectors.
Department for Transport
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4 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Engine for growth: se…
Increase flexibility for apprenticeship levy funds to benefit SMEs and UK-wide transport manufacturers.
Substantial amounts of levy funding has expired unspent. Rather than further constraining the opportunities for spending such funding, the Government should increase flexibility. We welcome the Government’s Budget 2025 commitment to fully fund apprenticeships for eligible people under 25 at … Read more
Government Response
The government will work with industry to ensure that Occupational Standards are updated as needed to reflect changing industry needs, and Skills England’s new accelerated approach will mean updates to apprenticeships or development of new short courses can be completed in as little as three months.
Department for Transport
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5 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Engine for growth: se…
Extend apprenticeship levy expiry; consult on capital expenditure, UK-wide spending, and SME supply chain mechanisms.
The Government should: • extend the expiry window for unspent levy funding to three years; • consult on allowing levy funding to be used on capital expenditure to support the provision of training and skills development (so long as that … Read more
Government Response
The Government sets clear expectations for schools and colleges through strengthened statutory guidance, updated in spring 2025, and there is external accountability provided by Ofsted.
Department for Transport
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6 Conclusion Accepted
5th Report - Engine for growth: se…
Removing Level 7 apprenticeship funding for over-22s jeopardises transport manufacturing's skilled worker supply.
We acknowledge that the Government is seeking to re-balance funding to prioritise people aged below 22. However, the removal of Government funding for level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 22 and older risks jeopardising the supply of experienced and highly … Read more
Government Response
The Government has now brought forward its response to the consultation on public procurement, published on 26th March 2026, and transport manufacturing is included within the definitions of Advanced Manufacturing in the Sector Plan.
Department for Transport
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11 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Engine for growth: se…
Gather annual transport manufacturer data on vocational training effectiveness; report findings to DfE, DWP.
The Department for Transport should on at least an annual basis gather information from British transport manufacturers on how effectively the UK’s vocational training system is delivering a robust pipeline of skills, and report these findings to the Departments for … Read more
Government Response
The Department for Transport will engage with employers, supported by Skills England, to continue to build this picture to inform the development of vocational training pathways and products.
Department for Transport
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15 Recommendation Accepted
5th Report - Engine for growth: se…
Strengthen accountability for careers advice and subject choice guidance in schools for manufacturing pathways.
The Department for Transport should work with relevant government departments to strengthen accountability for careers advice and subject choices guidance in schools to ensure that pathways to careers in manufacturing are not disadvantaged. (Recommendation, Paragraph 74) Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of careers guidance in manufacturing and will continue to work closely across departments to ensure strong accountability for careers guidance and visibility of pathways into manufacturing, and DfT will proactively work with other departments to develop careers pathways that reflect the needs of the transport manufacturing sector.
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 16 of 10 classified
Accepted 6
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 1
Rejected 1
Total 10 recs + 6 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
5 Nov 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Executive, Society of Maritime Industries relating to Skills for transport manufacturing, dated 23 October 2025
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