Select committee: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee
Conclusion 28
15th Report – Small business strategy
Published 11 Feb 2026
Addressed to Department for Business and Trade
Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee Small business strategy All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The Government’s future skills system is a more complicated combination of local and national initiatives. Small businesses broadly welcomed individual reforms but highlighted that they lack a clear route into the system. Skills England’s focus on data and dashboards, combined with limited SME engagement in its governance and development, risks entrenching these challenges rather than resolving them. Without clearer signposting and more meaningful involvement of small businesses, SMEs will not be effectively supported to fill their skills gaps and grow. (Conclusion, Paragraph 114)
From: Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Committee, 15th Report – Small business strategy (HC 1057), 11 February 2026
Government response
No government response linked yet: deadline 11 April 2026, 204 days ago.