Source · Select Committees · Business and Trade Committee
Recommendation 40
40
Accepted
Paragraph: 214
Offer returnerships across all Government departments and the wider public sector.
Recommendation
We recommend that Government departments, and the wider public sector, lead from the front on the returnership initiative. Offering returnerships in the Civil Service, in the NHS and in education, for example, will give the private sector confidence that it is a successful model worth the financial investment.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights that apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps already support older workers in the public sector, noting year-on-year increases in apprenticeships and ongoing work with employers to utilise these training options, without committing to a new initiative explicitly called 'returnerships' for public sector leadership.
Paragraph Reference:
214
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Apprenticeships can support older workers to start or progress their careers in the public sector, whether through reskilling or upskilling, and can support the sector to build a diverse pipeline of talent to meet emerging skills needs. We have seen year on year increases in the number of apprentices hired within the public sector, with some sectors putting an increased focus on the use of apprenticeships as their main entry route. Employers, including the Civil Service and wider public sector, such as NHS employers, have developed a range of apprenticeships to meet their needs including registered nurse, teacher, police constable, operational firefighter and public service operational delivery officer. We continue to work with public sector employers to ensure they can benefit from the high-quality and flexible training that apprenticeships provide. Skills Bootcamps are focused on delivering the skills that employers need in order to fill skills vacancies in key sectors (e.g. digital, construction, HGV driving and skills that support the Green economy). Departments including BEIS, DCMS, DfT and DWP, employers, and FE providers are working to identify skills needs that are a good fit for the Skills Bootcamps delivery model (i.e. good wage outcomes and in-demand skilled vacancies), this includes some roles that are in the public sector.