Labour pledges support for 40,000 manufacturers struggling to recruit

New analysis from Labour has shown the impact of the government’s failing skills system in manufacturing, with 40,000 manufacturers reporting they are struggling to find people with the right skills for the job. Apprenticeships in manufacturing have dropped 20% with 12,000 fewer people enrolling onto a manufacturing apprenticeship now than in 2017

Opening a STEM research centre in the South West alongside apprentices today, Keir Starmer and Jonathan Reynolds will pledge to back British business giving them greater flexibility over how the failed apprenticeship levy is spent. Labour’s ‘Growth and Skills Levy’ will provide more training opportunities for adults and young people to get the skills they need to secure good jobs.

Transforming skills to drive growth, Labour would also devolve adult education skills spending to combined authorities, and establish a new expert body – Skills England – to oversee the national skills effort.

Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, said:

“Labour will back our fantastic businesses to train and retain the people they need to grow, creating more well paid jobs in sectors like manufacturing. The Conservatives failure on skills is holding back our economy and preventing economic growth. Labour will back the talents of the British people, boosting skills and creating good jobs.”