Responding to a Public Accounts Committee report on developing
workforce skills, which highlight concerns in declining
participation in further education and skills training among
disadvantaged groups and the multiplicity of government skills
programmes, Cllr Kevin Bentley, Chairman of the Local Government
Association’s People and Places Board, said:
“This report is an alarming reminder of the skills shortages we
face unless we address major challenges in supporting people of
all ages and backgrounds into further education and training.
“We need to move away from a top-down, centralised approach to
skills, with employment support devolved to local leaders to get
the best value for money from the billions currently spent by
government on various disjointed national schemes.
“Every area has its own unique labour market including a mix of
jobs, qualification levels, unemployment and vacancies. Councils
and combined authorities want to unlock this potential talent,
using their unrivalled local insight and knowledge to bring
employers, training providers and jobseekers together with their
proven track record in delivering more for less.
“Given the right powers and resources, local government can help
build a workforce fit for the future by creating new jobs,
offering new training and spreading opportunities to more people,
in our shared endeavour to level up the country.”
Notes to Editors
The LGA’s own Work Local
analysis shows that using existing investment more
effectively – including the devolution of adult skills and more
influence on apprenticeships, employment support and 16-19
funding – could lead to a 15 per cent increase in the number
of people improving their skills or finding work.
