In early 2022, the UK workforce comprised around 32.6 million people. Workers require a range of skills to be productive and the skills system involves government, employers, training providers, local bodies and individuals. Employers play a crucial role in developing workforce skills and stimulating the skills system. They can encourage and support their staff to take up government-funded training opportunities. They also invest in their own training activities, create high-skilled jobs, and offer career progression and other opportunities for those with the appropriate skills.
Within government, the Department for Education (DfE) leads on skills policy in England and is accountable for securing value for money from much of the funding government provides for skills initiatives. In January 2021, DfE published the Skills for Jobs white paper. This explained how government would carry out reforms so that the further education system would support people to get the skills that the economy needs throughout their lives, wherever they live in the country. The Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022 made provisions to implement proposals from the white paper.po
