Policy Connect recently partnered with NOCN Group to host a reception in Parliament that considered ‘What’s Next for Skills?’. 

The opening months of the new parliament has seen the Government create Skills England, a new public body that will eventually operate at arms-length from the Government and oversee the country’s post-16 skills system.  

With significant changes set to occur in England’s skills system during this parliament, the reception was an opportune moment to convene parliamentarians, industry and sector leaders, and academics to consider the future of skills policy.  

Former Education Secretary, Lord David Blunkett, chaired a reception which featured lively discussion about how the Government can best tackle skills gaps and deliver a skills system that encourages opportunity, promotes employability, and drives growth.  

Joined by a host of new MPs and sector stakeholders, Policy Connect’s CEO Claudia Jaksch opened the reception by reflecting on the launch of the Skills Commission’s Skills 2030 report earlier this year and looking ahead to the work of the Skills Commission and APPG for Skills, Careers, and Employment during this parliament.  

Guests also heard from several high-profile speakers who provided their analysis on the state of England’s skills system and emphasised the importance of higher and further education in delivering a skilled workforce capable of boosting national productivity and economic growth.  

The reception featured speeches from: 

• Lord David Blunkett. 
• Lord Richard Layard. 
• Bill Esterson MP. 
• Lauren Edwards MP. 
• Sir John Hayes MP. 

For more information on Policy Connect’s skills work, please contact Peter Wilson (peter.wilson [at] policyconnect.org.uk (peter[dot]wilson[at]policyconnect[dot]org[dot]uk)).