The Government has responded to the Transport Committee’s report on skills for transport manufacturing without fully committing to any new measures focused on sector-specific recommendations.
The response states that the government “recognises the significant challenges that skills gaps present to transport manufacturing”.
Four of the report’s recommendations were partially accepted, including the call for Skills England to consult on the benefits of a ‘competency passport’ that would harness transferrable skills and help workers to move more easily between roles. However, the Government did not set out any specific or time-bound plans to consult the transport manufacturing sector on the potential benefits of this approach.
The Government rejected recommendations on loosening levy spending constraints and re-introducing level 7 apprenticeships funding for all ages despite strong calls from transport manufacturing representatives for such support.
It also rejected a recommendation on getting Skills England to detail how it will support the Government’s target to increase diversity in the manufacturing sectors, instead referring to the Make UK Equality Taskforce without committing to any timelines for the delivery of that Taskforce.
Transport Committee Chair Ruth Cadbury (pictured) said:
“It’s good to see Government acknowledging the significant challenges that skills gaps present to the transport manufacturing sector. But while our report called for specific actions to help close those gaps, the Government’s response lacks any sector-specific focus. Instead, the Government references its existing programme of work which, at best, may only partially meet the sector’s demands.
“It is also particularly disappointing that the Government has declined to impose additional employer requirements that would help improve workforce diversity in the transport manufacturing sector, especially given the evidence highlighted in the Committee’s report.
“The Committee remains clear that more still needs be done to make the most of new opportunities in areas such as the manufacturing of electric vehicles and alternative fuels, and to respond to the opportunities presented by the Government’s flagship legislation on buses, rail and decarbonisation of transport. This is particularly important in areas where transport manufacturing is a significant local employer. We also want to see action to improve representation and diversity across the transport manufacturing sector, and we will continue to track the Government’s progress in these vital areas.”
(Picture: House of Commons/Laurie Noble)
