NOCN Group’s submission is focused on skills to achieve growth with a move to a cleaner, circular economy with high levels of productivity, underpinned by new technologies including AI.

It recommends focusing effort on 10 major sectors – the eight growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy (advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries, creative industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences, professional and business services) plus two ‘enabling sectors’ (construction & health and social care).

Curriculum and qualifications in Further Education

NOCN Group says we need a fundamental departure from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to Further Education, as is the case in several European countries. The post-16 (or even post-14) curriculum needs to be split into four streams:

• ‘Traditional’ academic
• Technical (beyond just T Levels)
• Craft and operational
• Upskilling of adults

Each of these streams needs a different assessment system designed for the needs of these learners and the professions they will enter into.

Delivering Further Education

NOCN Group believes that funding for Further Education is totally inadequate for economic growth. It says that: “we must invest in ‘people’ and their skills, not just capital investment in infrastructure and new technologies.”

Employers should release skilled staff to deliver specialist skills to learners to reduce workforce pressures on colleges and training providers.

Skills and apprenticeships

NOCN Group says that addressing skills shortages and gaps not only needs better funding and less bureaucracy, but also more of a focus on reskilling and upskilling the existing workforce. This must be driven by the 10 key sectors mentioned above, which should be given the freedom to act on training and skills levies (see this recent article by NOCN Group chief executive Graham Hasting-Evans in The New Statesman).

Levy arrangements also need to extend to SMEs and, while Occupational Standards should be national, devolved authorities should be able to tailor them regionally and locally.

Saving on reducing investment in Level 7 apprenticeships would release funding for Level 2 and 3 apprenticeships in critical areas where skills gaps are greatest.

Supporting young people, widening access, and narrowing the attainment gap

As a skills charity focused on social impact, making vocational education accessible to all is a key priority for NOCN Group – and should be for the government and others if economic growth targets are to be achieved.

Externally accredited courses and qualifications designed to enable learners to take ownership of life skills and challenges would take pressure off colleges to address mental health and other issues facing their students. It would also build long term resilience for those entering the workforce.

Other vocational qualifications and assessments also need to be designed to ensure that all learners can access them and achieve them. This requires more flexibility and greater recognition of them as credible alternatives to the academic route.

Read our full response here.