28
Skills England's limited SME engagement hinders small businesses from filling skills gaps effectively.
Conclusion
The Government’s future skills system is a more complicated combination of local and national initiatives. Small businesses broadly welcomed individual reforms but highlighted that they lack a clear route into the system. Skills England’s focus on data and dashboards, combined with limited SME engagement in its governance and development, risks entrenching these challenges rather than resolving them. Without clearer signposting and more meaningful involvement of small businesses, SMEs will not be effectively supported to fill their skills gaps and grow. (Conclusion, Paragraph 114)
Source
Committee
Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry
Small business strategy
Report
15th Report – Small business strategy
11 Feb 2026
HC 1057
Addressee Bodies
Department for Business and Trade
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.3 yrs
Report published
11 Feb 2026