Developing workforce skills for a strong economy

Develop a strategy and supporting implementation plan for achieving its objectives on workforce skills, building on the approach set out in the Skills for Jobs white paper. This should set out: ? how different parts of the system, and different programmes, will interact with each other to make a coherent whole; ? how central and local government will work together to support skills development in local places; ? different ?user journeys?, and how employers and individuals will be incentivised to develop skills and engage with the skills system; ? the risks and opportunities that could affect government?s ambitions; and ? the full set of metrics that government will use to monitor progress.

Work with mayoral combined authorities and other local bodies to establish how it can achieve the 2030 Levelling Up skills mission most effectively, and report regularly on whether it is on track. DfE should work with DLUHC in particular on this area.

Strengthen oversight of government?s portfolio of skills initiatives by regular reporting against performance metrics from across departments to the Labour Market Steering Group; and clarifying how different cross-government forums fit together. DfE should work with the Cabinet Office in particular on this area.

Consider specific issues relating to older workers who form a growing proportion of the workforce, including current and future skills gaps, barriers to participation in skills training and how these barriers could be addressed. DfE should work with DWP in particular on this area.

Support the Unit for Future Skills to focus on the most important areas of forecasting and assess whether the Unit is effectively influencing stakeholders to use the intelligence and insights it generates