While the new Education Minister Jacqui Smith has a lot to do to ensure that the UK can compete globally when it comes to skills, NOCN Group’s chief executive Graham Hasting-Evans says that pausing qualification reform and making long-awaited proper investment in them will be a key driver, not just for skills but for the wider economy and society:

“There is a lot to say and do on skills policy but if we had one message for the new Government, it would be this: If we continue de-funding Level 2 and 3 construction qualifications, there will be no chance of building the 1.5 million homes they have promised. It’s simply not possible without high quality, properly regulated, industry-led vocational education.

“And it’s not just home-building. We desperately need ‘green skills’ to unlock a future workforce capable of finally delivering on Net Zero targets and Level 2 and 3 qualifications in this emerging area, like our new Low Carbon Heating Engineer one, are the key to this.

“Not to mention Health & Social Care, which has long-since needed professionalising and recognising for its vital contribution to supporting our ageing population. These career pathways have been neglected for too long and it’s time to prioritise funding for them, starting with re-instating and perhaps even extending funding for the new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate.”

Find out more about Regulated Qualifications from NOCN Group here. NOCN Group also offers Assured Courses, Apprenticeship End Point Assessment, Competence Cards & Test, and Short Online Courses in specialisms including Construction & The Built Environment; Engineering, Manufacturing & Green Skills; Health & Social Care; and Skills for Work & Life.