Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Paragraph: 52
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK...
Conclusion
A discussion paper is an insufficient response to the challenge of ensuring that the UK has the skills to deliver the Government’s ambitious infrastructure agenda. A detailed skills strategy is required. As part of the refresh of the Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy, the Department must develop a future skills plan in consultation with public and private sector employers to identify and address skills gaps that might delay major projects. Such a strategy should be accompanied by a financial commitment from the Government aimed at addressing specific skills gaps, such as in transport engineering and project management, through apprenticeships and training programmes.
Paragraph Reference:
52
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government partially accepts these recommendations. The discussion paper acts as the basis for consultation with public and private employers. The paper will cover the challenges and opportunities for the transport sector and will ask questions of our stakeholders to inform our approach to, potentially, a refreshed skills strategy. We will also be establishing a refreshed industry-led Taskforce who will drive this work forward. The Taskforce will be chaired by an industry leader and will be responsible for driving the work of the discussion paper, representing industry views, and making recommendations for future transport skills policy to the Department. We want the Taskforce to recommend to government how we can best work together to tackle the challenges we face and make the most of the opportunities available and we will set out the plans for this in the forthcoming discussion paper. In terms of addressing skills gaps, as well as working with the Taskforce and public and private employers in the transport sector, we will work closely with the Department for Education and Department for Work and Pensions to increase uptake in apprenticeships and training programmes currently available, to fill the shortages across the sector.