Close the gap: Proposing a map for UK technical and skills education to 2024 and beyond

The report proposes a roadmap for a cohesive and integrated technical and vocational skills system (TVET), that builds upon some of the new policy around technical education and skills that has been introduced over the last few years. It calls on government to rapidly prioritise Level 2 provision and to fully fund apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3. UK workers with none, or low qualifications and limited skills will have significantly fewer jobs as technology impacts on certain sectors. The report also predicts a ‘missing middle’ over the next 5 to 10 years in associate professional, and scientific and technical jobs particularly at Levels 4 and 5. Investing in the existing workforce is therefore crucial considering the cohort of young people coming through the formal education system only represents around 2.1% of the workforce.