15 October 2026
Skills Federation asks from the UK Budget
The Skills Federation, of which the CDI is a member, has published its priorities for the upcoming Budget to improve employer investment in skills.
On 28th October, the Chancellor will present the Budget, setting out the UK Government’s spending priorities for the coming years.
The Skills Federation has set out the three priority areas it wants to see focus on, based on feedback from its members who represent skills organisations for major industries from heavy engineering to the creative sector.
The first is to adapt the Growth and Skills Levy so that it is more flexible, allowing employers to invest in the training needs of their sector, including apprenticeships. Apprenticeship units can play a role but only if they are developed with employers, and the full value of the levy contributions should be made available to employers for investment.
While devolution can enable more locally focused investment plans, the Skills Federation warns that this needs to be managed carefully, so as not to make it too burdensome for employers who recruit across multiple areas. The danger is that localism becomes fragmentation, raising barriers to skills investment and recruitment across areas.
The third area is for the government to look beyond NEETs, to recognise the need to invest in skills throughout working lives. Of course, supporting young people into work is important, but to meet the skills needs of the current and future economy, government needs to also invest in the existing workforce, such as through the Adult Skills Fund.
Read more about the Skills Federation priorities.
On 28th October, the Chancellor will present the Budget, setting out the UK Government’s spending priorities for the coming years.
The Skills Federation has set out the three priority areas it wants to see focus on, based on feedback from its members who represent skills organisations for major industries from heavy engineering to the creative sector.
The first is to adapt the Growth and Skills Levy so that it is more flexible, allowing employers to invest in the training needs of their sector, including apprenticeships. Apprenticeship units can play a role but only if they are developed with employers, and the full value of the levy contributions should be made available to employers for investment.
While devolution can enable more locally focused investment plans, the Skills Federation warns that this needs to be managed carefully, so as not to make it too burdensome for employers who recruit across multiple areas. The danger is that localism becomes fragmentation, raising barriers to skills investment and recruitment across areas.
The third area is for the government to look beyond NEETs, to recognise the need to invest in skills throughout working lives. Of course, supporting young people into work is important, but to meet the skills needs of the current and future economy, government needs to also invest in the existing workforce, such as through the Adult Skills Fund.
Read more about the Skills Federation priorities.
0 Comments
