12 June 2026
Unlocking the growth potential of higher technical qualifications
England has a long-standing issue with training at Levels 4 and 5, that has been shown to affect the nation’s productivity, the progression of individuals and their ability to access higher-level skills.
The Lifelong Education Institute report, ‘The Missing Middle: Unlocking the growth potential of higher technical qualifications’, explores the issues with Level 4 and 5 training and how it is about more than just qualification reform. It examines why take-up for Higher Technical Qualifications continues to be low, despite employers clearly demanding more skills at this level and growing interest from the public in flexible, career-related learning.
The report is based on interviews with a range of stakeholders, analysis of recent policy decisions and evidence from across the sector. The authors argue that Higher Technical Qualifications will only reach the desired levels of delivery if they are ‘better understood, better funded, more clearly linked to progression, and more closely aligned with how learners and employers actually make decisions’.
Read more about ‘The Missing Middle: Unlocking the growth potential of higher technical qualifications’ report.
The Lifelong Education Institute report, ‘The Missing Middle: Unlocking the growth potential of higher technical qualifications’, explores the issues with Level 4 and 5 training and how it is about more than just qualification reform. It examines why take-up for Higher Technical Qualifications continues to be low, despite employers clearly demanding more skills at this level and growing interest from the public in flexible, career-related learning.
The report is based on interviews with a range of stakeholders, analysis of recent policy decisions and evidence from across the sector. The authors argue that Higher Technical Qualifications will only reach the desired levels of delivery if they are ‘better understood, better funded, more clearly linked to progression, and more closely aligned with how learners and employers actually make decisions’.
Read more about ‘The Missing Middle: Unlocking the growth potential of higher technical qualifications’ report.
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