New laws for skills and training opportunities

Please note: this article was published on 12th May 2021, the information below may now be out of date. For the latest information, visit our Covid-19 Updates page here.

The government’s new legislative programme was unveiled in the Queen’s Speech earlier this week (Tuesday 11th May 2021).

New laws will create a post-16 and adult education and training system that is fit for the future, providing the skills that people need for well-paid jobs and opportunities to train throughout their lifetime.

The new legislative measures include:

– Enabling a new student finance system to transform the current student loans system, will give every adult access to a flexible loan for higher-level education and training at university or college, at any point in their lives.

– Employers will have a statutory role in planning publicly-funded training programmes with education providers, through a “Skills Accelerator” programme.

– The Secretary of State for Education will be given more powers to intervene in colleges that fail to meet local needs, and to direct structural change where needed to ensure the provider improves.

Further information can be found here.