However you view it, 2016 was certainly an eventful year with significant repercussions on the national and international policy stage, and we’re now left with the political aftermath of last year.
The invocation of Article 50 is due in the first quarter of this year. Although the government is keeping its own counsel on the precise nature of Brexit, restrictions on the movement of workers from the EU into the UK will mean skills gaps will grow in the UK workforce. In this instance, technical education will be more important than ever to support employers in plugging these skills gaps.
Therefore, the timing of the Technical and Further Education Bill couldn’t be more critical. Once passed, this Bill will set out the future of technical education for 16 to 19 year olds, in addition to setting out the role of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. We’re closely involved in the passage of this Bill and the establishment of the Institute. We’re petitioning for providers to have a choice from a range of provision, and for quality to be embedded in the new apprenticeships.
The spring will also bring in the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy and the levy based funding system. The levy has been introduced to encourage employers to invest in apprenticeships for their workforce, and a lot of work has gone into ensuring that employers are in the driving seat when negotiating prices and setting out their apprenticeship needs. Only time will tell if this initiative leads to an increase in the number of apprenticeships, and therefore jobs.
What is clear is that 2017 stands to be a key transition year in the world of technical education. At the moment, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the issues outlined above which I feel we may not get much clarity on.
However, amid all this change, we can be certain that there will be a need for high quality technical education, helping learners progress to their professional and personal goals. We look forward to working with you in supporting this aspiration.
