Recommendations & Conclusions
16 items
1
Conclusion
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
Manufacturing of motor vehicles, buses, aeroplanes, trains, and ships has deep roots in the UK, supported by rich ecosystems of associated businesses and supply chains. Transport manufacturing provides high quality, well-paid work which sustains many communities across the country and makes a significant contribution to the UK economy as well …
Government response. Acknowledges the importance of transport manufacturing to the UK economy and describes changes to the Growth and Skills Levy and funding for various skills initiatives.
Department for Transport
2
Conclusion
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
The Government’s legislation on the provision of bus and rail services, and policies promoting transition to EVs and fuel innovation in aerospace, provide once-in-a-generation opportunities for production and employment. Delivering on these opportunities will require the Department of Transport to mobilise the essential contributions of other Government departments and to …
Government response. The Government states that supporting skills across the eight growth-driving sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy is a priority and that they are introducing flexibilities through the growth and skills levy to support critical skills in these sectors.
Department for Transport
3
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Accepted
The Secretary of State for Transport should meet regularly with her counterparts in the Departments for Business and Trade, Education and Skills, Work and Pensions, Energy Security and Net Zero, and the Cabinet Office with a focus on how the British transport manufacturing sector can be best placed to make …
Government response. The Government highlights work with Skills England to ensure the offer meets business needs, delivers value for money and supports economic growth, and states they are launching the first eight apprenticeship units from April 2026, focussing on priority sectors.
Department for Transport
4
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Accepted
Substantial amounts of levy funding has expired unspent. Rather than further constraining the opportunities for spending such funding, the Government should increase flexibility. We welcome the Government’s Budget 2025 commitment to fully fund apprenticeships for eligible people under 25 at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, more should be done …
Government response. The government will work with industry to ensure that Occupational Standards are updated as needed to reflect changing industry needs, and Skills England’s new accelerated approach will mean updates to apprenticeships or development of new short courses can be completed …
Department for Transport
5
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Accepted
The Government should: • extend the expiry window for unspent levy funding to three years; • consult on allowing levy funding to be used on capital expenditure to support the provision of training and skills development (so long as that is not to the detriment of passing down that levy …
Government response. The Government sets clear expectations for schools and colleges through strengthened statutory guidance, updated in spring 2025, and there is external accountability provided by Ofsted.
Department for Transport
6
Conclusion
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Accepted
We acknowledge that the Government is seeking to re-balance funding to prioritise people aged below 22. However, the removal of Government funding for level 7 apprenticeships for those aged 22 and older risks jeopardising the supply of experienced and highly skilled workers for the transport manufacturing sector. (Conclusion, Paragraph 41)
Government response. The Government has now brought forward its response to the consultation on public procurement, published on 26th March 2026, and transport manufacturing is included within the definitions of Advanced Manufacturing in the Sector Plan.
Department for Transport
7
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
We concur with the Education Committee in its report on Further Education and Skills that the Government should re-introduce levy funding for level 7 apprenticeships for all ages within the eight growth- driving sectors identified in the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. (Recommendation, Paragraph 42) 33
Government response. The Department for Transport will engage with employers, supported by Skills England, to continue to build this picture to inform the development of vocational training pathways and products.
Department for Transport
8
Conclusion
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
Apprenticeship standards and other technical education training standards are not consistently being kept up to date and sometimes contain significant gaps or irrelevant content. As a result, the skills provided do not always meet the requirements of employers in the transport manufacturing sector. (Conclusion, Paragraph 48)
Government response. Skills England welcomes the opportunity to work with the transport manufacturing sector to understand their needs for skills passports and how these connect with the wider manufacturing sector where passport development is already under consideration.
Department for Transport
9
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
Skills England should ensure that, notwithstanding the recent change to remove the requirement to undertake reviews at fixed points, apprenticeship and other technical education training standards are revised and updated at a minimum of every three years. It is essential that transport manufacturers are closely involved in these reviews, to …
Government response. The DBT has developed a target, in consultation with industry, to increase women’s representation in the sector to 35% by 2035, and are working with industry to improve representation and diversity across the sector, including through a Make UK Equality …
Department for Transport
10
Conclusion
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
The UK does not have a sufficient pipeline from education to industry. Re- skilling and upskilling are also not adequately supported to better enable people to be retained by existing businesses or move from one business or sector to another. (Conclusion, Paragraph 64)
Government response. The government acknowledges the skills gap and references its vision for a world-leading skills system and actions being taken to align delivery levers across employment and adult skills programmes.
Department for Transport
11
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Accepted
The Department for Transport should on at least an annual basis gather information from British transport manufacturers on how effectively the UK’s vocational training system is delivering a robust pipeline of skills, and report these findings to the Departments for Education and Work and Pensions to inform further development of …
Government response. The Department for Transport will engage with employers, supported by Skills England, to continue to build this picture to inform the development of vocational training pathways and products.
Department for Transport
12
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
Skilled workers face significant barriers when trying to move across and within areas of transport manufacturing. This is especially frustrating when employers report persistent skills shortages. Skills England should by the end of 2026 consult the transport manufacturing sector on the potential benefits of a ‘competency passport’ approach to improving …
Government response. Skills England welcomes the opportunity to work with the transport manufacturing sector to understand their needs regarding a 'competency passport' approach and how these can connect with the wider manufacturing sector where passport development is already under consideration.
Department for Transport
13
Conclusion
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Acknowledged
There is a significant and complex challenge to be overcome in increasing diversity in the transport manufacturing sector. We welcome the Department for Transport’s commitment to work with industry to change outdated perceptions of manufacturing and strongly endorse the Government’s target to increase women’s representation in the advanced manufacturing sector …
Government response. The government restates its commitment to increasing women’s representation in the advanced manufacturing sector to 35% of the workforce by 2035 and references work with industry via the Make UK Equality Taskforce.
Department for Transport
14
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Deferred
Skills England should by the end of 2026 set out an evidence-led plan, commissioning research necessary to fill gaps in knowledge on what has worked best in the manufacturing sector, detailing how it will support the Government’s target to increase diversity in the manufacturing sectors. The plan should include commitments …
Government response. The government will wait for the Make UK Equality Taskforce's recommendations before taking action on increasing diversity in the advanced manufacturing sector, including transport manufacturing, and will update the select committee once the Task Force has tangible recommendations.
Department for Transport
15
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Accepted
The Department for Transport should work with relevant government departments to strengthen accountability for careers advice and subject choices guidance in schools to ensure that pathways to careers in manufacturing are not disadvantaged. (Recommendation, Paragraph 74)
Government response. The government recognizes the importance of careers guidance in manufacturing and will continue to work closely across departments to ensure strong accountability for careers guidance and visibility of pathways into manufacturing, and DfT will proactively work with other departments to …
Department for Transport
16
Recommendation
5th Report - Engine for growth: securin…
Rejected
Skills England must undertake a review to ensure that it supports a range of modular or part-time apprenticeships, or other training options in the transport manufacturing sector, to help attract candidates with caring responsibilities or those returning to work from career breaks. Manufacturers receiving levy funding or apprenticeship support should …
Government response. The government does not plan to impose additional conditions on employers through reporting of training options, believing that employers are responsible for their recruitment decisions and that they have a fundamental responsibility to ensure that their hiring practices provide fair, …
Department for Transport