techUK response to Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper

 techUK welcomes the government’s new Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy White Paper, which aims to reshape the skills system to meet the needs of a changing economy.  

As digital transformation accelerates across every part of the economy, demand for advanced digital, data and technical skills continues to outpace supply. The tech industry is a major driver of productivity, innovation and job creation, but persistent skills gaps and challenges facing higher education risk holding back growth and limiting opportunity. A joined-up approach to post-16 education and skills is vital to ensuring the UK remains globally competitive in technology. 

The strategy covers a lot of ground. It spans everything from adult learning and digital skills to higher education reform, employer investment, and support for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). It is a necessarily comprehensive document that aims to join up education, employment and industrial strategy in a way that reflects the real-world challenges facing learners, providers and employers. 

The document recognises that only a collaborative approach can deliver, working effectively across government, with industry, and with partners in every part of the skills system. We set out some of the key inclusions below, and will publish our full analysis shortly. 

This Strategy is a welcome step towards a more joined-up, employer-led skills system. If delivered well, it could help unlock new pathways into tech careers, support lifelong learning, and build a more inclusive, future-ready workforce. There is much to support, but there are areas of concern too, including increased costs for hiring international talent and the International Student Levy. We support government ambitions to create a strong pipeline of domestic talent, but businesses must be able to recruit the skills they need while this takes shape. Delivery will be key, and techUK looks forward to working with government on sector plans and ensuring reforms meet the needs of the tech industry and learners alike. – Antony Walker, deputy CEO 

techUK's Skills, Talent and Diversity Programme activities

techUK work with our members to signpost the opportunity of digital jobs and ensure these opportunities are open to people of diverse backgrounds. We strive to help our members attract, recruit, and retain a diverse workforce, whilst showcasing their work on workplace innovation. Visit the programme page here.

Jobs and Skills

To make sure that the UK is a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone, it is crucial that people have the digital skills needed for life and work. Rapid digitalisation is creating surging demand for digital skills across the economy and the current domestic skills pipeline cannot keep up. Digitalisation is also leading to rapid changes in the labour market that means some traditional roles are being displaced. There is an urgent need to better match the demand and supply.

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Future of Work

The future of work is changing. Technology is powering a growth in flexible work across the economy, whilst emerging technologies such as robotics and AI are set to become common place. techUK believes the UK must consider the implications of digital transformation in the world of work now, equipping people and businesses across the country with the skills and conditions needed to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the 4IR.

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Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion sits at the heart of digital growth. The tech sector understands that innovation thrives from diversity of thought and is continually looking to attract, recruit and retain a diverse workforce. techUK is proud to support a number of initiatives that promote this, from doing outreach work to ensure that people regardless of their background are inspired into tech, to initiatives that help build more inclusive workplaces for those with different accessibility needs.

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Returners Hub

Returners programmes offer a supported bridge back to work for people who have taken a career break. Providing ways for people to ease back into work after a career break is a vital way to make sure we do not lose out on their talent and experience. The techUK returners hub was created as a one-stop-shop for people looking to return to a career in digital.

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Authors

Jake Wall

Policy Manager, Skills and Future of Work, techUK

Jake has been the Policy Manager for Skills and Future of Work since May 2022, supporting techUK's work to empower the UK to skill, attract and retain the brightest global talent, and prepare for the digital transformations of the future workplace.

Previously, Jake was the Programme Assistant for Policy. He joined techUK in March 2019 and has also worked across the EU Exit, International Trade, and Cloud, Data Analytics and AI programmes.

He also holds an MA in International Relations from the University of Sussex, as well as a BA(Hons) in International Politics from Aberystwyth University. During his time at Aberystwyth University, he won the International Politics Dissertation Prize.

Email:

[email protected]

LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/jwwuk

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