Following the announcement of the ‘Skills England Bill’ in the King’s speech, the Department for Education has launched Skills England.  This new national body is charged with overseeing and simplifying skills education and training, and ensuring the national supply of necessary skills for economic growth.

Skills England will bring together central and local government, businesses, training providers and unions with a view to meeting the skills needs of the next decade, providing strategic oversight of the post-16 skills system aligned to the government’s industrial strategy.

Established in phases over the next 12 months, Skills England will aim to ensure that young people across England can secure employment and training in their local area, whilst also addressing national skills gaps.  Skills England will also identify the training for which the growth and skills levy (formerly the apprenticeships levy) will be accessible.

Richard Pennycook, currently a non-executive director at the DfE, will lead the establishment of Skills England while a permanent board, chair and CEO is appointed in the coming months.

If and when the ‘Skills England Bill’ is approved by Parliament, functions of the current Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE) will transfer to Skills England.