Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
5th Report - Engine for growth: securing skills for transport manufacturing
Transport Committee
HC 1223
Published 28 January 2026
Recommendations
7
Acknowledged
Re-introduce levy funding for Level 7 apprenticeships for all ages across key growth sectors.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
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9
Acknowledged
Ensure apprenticeship standards are updated every three years with transport manufacturer involvement.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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 Taskforce due to be launched in the coming months.
Department for Transport
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12
Acknowledged
Consult the transport manufacturing sector on a ‘competency passport’ approach for worker transferability.
Recommendation
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 …
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Government Response Summary
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
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Conclusions (5)
1
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
2
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
8
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
10
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.
13
Conclusion
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 Summary
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.