EngineeringUK has welcomed new government announcements on post-16 education reform and clean energy job creation, calling them important steps toward strengthening the UK’s engineering and technology workforce.
-16 Education and Skills White Paper sets out reforms to align education more closely with the needs of the economy, while the Clean Energy Jobs Plan outlines how government, industry and trade unions will work together to deliver the workforce needed for the UK’s clean energy transition.
Beatrice Barleon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at EngineeringUK, said: “We are pleased to see the publication of the long-awaited post-16 Education and Skills White Paper. We cautiously welcome the announcement of V Levels, designed to work alongside A Levels and T Levels.”
She added that V Levels mark a “promising step” toward improving work-focused training in sectors like engineering and technology but stressed that government must ensure employers and education providers recognise and support the qualification.
“It is vital that any subsequent changes are followed by a period of stability,” she said.
Barleon also welcomed the government’s goal for two-thirds of young people to take part in higher-level learning by age 25, alongside greater investment in training for growth sectors.
However, she cautioned that the focus on higher-level qualifications must not divert attention from entry-level apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3, which are crucial pathways into engineering and technology careers.
Turning to the Clean Energy Jobs Plan, Ms Barleon said the strategy “makes it very clear that the UK needs a coherent strategy as to how to meet growing workforce demand.”
EngineeringUK welcomes focus on skills and clean energy workforce appeared first on Energy Live News.