Training provider calls for employer-led approach to skills

Bekki Phillips, managing director at In-Comm Training, said: "The biggest thing for business is that hopefully we now have an end to uncertainty and the Government – with a working majority – can start to look to the future and implementing some of its policies to support the economy.

"It is vitally important we continue to plan and build environments that ensure individuals have the right skills to move our country forward, as we start to forge new alliances in the world of trade deals and make the most of the UK’s position in digital manufacturing and ‘green’ technologies."

She said that the Conservative manifesto had talked about a £3bn National Skills Fund that would provide match funding for small and medium-sized businesses and individuals and that was something In-Comm cautiously welcomed.

"As always, the devil is in the detail and we need to ensure whatever additional money that comes into training and skills is channelled in the right way and should be led by employers. This approach would avoid the type of issues that have held the Apprenticeship Levy back.

"A major cash boost for college estates has also been mentioned and, whilst this is good news on the whole, we should not forget the role private sector training providers play in delivering skills provision and engaging with business.

"Working with local companies, we have invested £7.5m into our three technical academies in the Black Country and Shropshire and these are really reaping dividends, creating a strong pipeline of apprentices that meet the region’s skills needs," she added.

Mrs Phillips said In-Comm believed this was the blueprint on how training - both apprenticeships and upskilling courses - should be delivered.

"Business has been stagnating for too long whilst we’ve waited to get an outcome with Brexit. Now is the time to be positive and forge ahead with plans for the future," she enthused.