Briefings and responses

A Commission on the Future of Employment Support is looking at ways in which employment support and services could more effectively help people who want to, to move into, and progress in work and help employers find, recruit and retain the right people across the UK. The Institute for Employment Studies is providing the secretariat for the Commission. This is the LGA’s submission to it.

Our response to the DfE second stage consultation on implementing a new further education funding and accountability system for adult skills.

The Government’s approach to give local Employer Representative Bodies a lead role in articulating their skills need in Local Skills Improvement Plans is a step in the right direction. However, the wide-ranging role of local government – councils and MCAs/GLA – in supporting this process is missing from the Act and statutory guidance.

This LGA response to the Government consultation considers the views of local authorities – councils and combined authorities – as place shapers and leaders, adult learning providers and commissioners.

The DfE sought views on how remaining National Skills Funding could be used to help more people benefit from the new publicly funded level 3 qualifications offer, skills bootcamps and how it can meet critical skills needs. This LGA response considers the view of local authorities – councils and combined authorities – as place shapers and leaders and adult learning providers.

Local government – local authorities (LAs) and mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) – have a crucial role in making the skills and employment system work for their areas, and have wide-ranging functions and expertise in the skills system.

Throughout the pandemic, councils were trusted to lead the employment and skills recovery in their areas.

As furlough ends, no community will be untouched by unemployment. It is vitally important that a joined up, place-based employment, skills and careers system offers adults and young people the recovery they deserve by providing access to quality education and training opportunities.

We welcome the recommendation of an ambitious, long-term strategy for adult skills and lifelong learning and that local authorities are awarded powers and funding to take on an enhanced statutory role for mapping, commissioning and delivery.