Government brings employers and educators together to prepare young people for work

Business, education and local government leaders are meeting to help shape reforms aimed at better preparing young people for employment.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell is hosting regional mayors, business leaders, headteachers and college principals at No10 North in Manchester today (10th September) to discuss vocational education, work experience and skills provision.

The summit will focus on vocational education reforms from age 14, work experience opportunities and the devolution of funding for 16 to 19-year-olds.

It will be the first in a series of meetings bringing together employers, politicians and education leaders as the Government seeks to put technical and academic education on an equal footing.

The reforms include the introduction of V Levels from age 16 and the expansion of T Levels from next September, as the Government looks to address the nearly one million young people not in education, employment or training.

Powell said: “I want a new way of working in education. I want change to come not from Whitehall alone, but to be co-designed with those who will deliver it, those who know local strengths and challenges best – you and your colleagues.

“That’s what we’re here today, and that’s how I want us to see devolution. I want it to be at the heart of a different way of doing things: a partnership between national government and local areas, so that we can bring the change that children, young people and families need, up and down the country.”

Higher education minister Baroness Smith will also call on universities to work with local leaders, colleges and employers to identify skills needs, shape courses and create work experience opportunities.