Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 34
34
Paragraph: 145
We are concerned that the Government lacks a joined-up approach for generating jobs on the...
Recommendation
We are concerned that the Government lacks a joined-up approach for generating jobs on the high street and ensuring that those working on the high street have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills. The Government should set out its targets for high street employment and how they relate to its plans for skills and jobs. We also reiterate our recommendation from our report on devolution in England that the devolution of the adult education budget should be included in the devolution framework. This will help areas target their adult education initiatives towards skills gaps in their town centres.
Paragraph Reference:
145
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
Through our skills reforms, we are helping more people get the quality technical skills that employers want – including by expanding our post-16 technical education and training offer; providing a more direct line of sight to jobs; and delivering courses more flexibly to meet employer and learner need. Locally, we are setting up the infrastructure to ensure that technical skills provision is better able to meet local labour market needs – including through the Trailblazers for local skills improvement plans and by reforming the adult skills funding and accountability system for further education colleges and other training providers. We want to see employers on the high street work in partnership with providers and local areas to help design qualifications and standards, and shape local provision that meets their needs (including by offering more apprenticeships and traineeships). In 2021/22 approximately 60% of the adult education budget (AEB) is devolved to 9 Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Mayor of London, acting where appropriate through the Greater London Authority. These authorities are now responsible for the provision of AEB-funded adult education for their residents and allocation of the AEB to providers. The Education and Skills Funding Agency is responsible for the remaining AEB in non-devolved areas. We have committed to devolving adult education functions and the associated core AEB to new areas in the Levelling Up White Paper, as long as the authorities cover functional economic areas, and have the required governance arrangements in place. We will continue to work in close partnership with devolved bodies to support their undertaking of education functions post devolution and are committed to open dialogue on how best skills provision and reforms can be shaped to fit the needs of local areas.