The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee has raised concerns over the UK’s current skills and training system.
In a recent letter to the Minister for Skills, Baroness Smith of Malvern, Committee Chair Baroness Taylor of Bolton outlined key issues.
These include a lack of direction in the skills system and a shortage of opportunities for young people who do not go to university.
The committee’s inquiry found that apprenticeships and training programmes are not meeting the future needs of the UK economy.
There are worries that the current system is too complex and focused on short term goals.
The report points to dissatisfaction with the Apprenticeship Levy, soon to be replaced by the Growth and Skills Levy.
The committee fears that this levy is disadvantaging young people, with more funding going towards existing staff training rather than supporting new starters.
Baroness Taylor noted that apprenticeships are being used to train workers of all ages, which limits opportunities for younger people and those entering new fields.
The committee also found some apprenticeships too academic for learners and burdensome for employers.
It highlighted the benefits of effective local control over skills but warned against unnecessary new processes that replicate central government.
