During Education Oral Questions, High Peak MP Robert Largan pressed the Education Secretary, the Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP, to continue investment in skills and technical education as part of the Government’s efforts to build back better.
The High Peak MP focused on T-levels, asking the minister:
“What steps his Department is taking to ensure that all students taking T-levels receive a high-quality industry placement.”
The Education Secretary briefed the House on the significant funding the Government had allocated for industrial placements for T-level students:
“The Government have invested £165 million to help providers to prepare for and deliver industry placements, building capacity in their relationships with employers. We have invested nearly £7 million so far in direct support for employers, and we are also exploring what short-term funded support may be appropriate to enable employers to offer placements.”
Robert Largan MP pushed the minster further on the subject, with a particular focus on High Peak jobs:
“I welcome the Government’s plan for jobs, which rightly prioritises technical education. Does the Education Secretary agree that investing in further education and T-levels in places such as the High Peak is vital for our economic recovery, for improving skills and training, and for increasing opportunity, helping local people of all ages and backgrounds into good-quality jobs?”
The Education Secretary supported Robert in conclusion:
“I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend. It is so vital that we see the roll-out of T-levels. These qualifications have been designed hand in glove with employers to make sure that they are delivering not only for students, but for the employers themselves. As we roll out our skills accelerators across the country, we are putting in £65 million-worth of further investment to ensure that we start to link up jobs, skills and young people, to ensure that we are getting the workforce right for the future.”
Robert Largan MP commented:
“I was pleased to raise the issue of further education and technical education directly with the Education Secretary.
“Investing in skills and vocational learning is highly important, both to drive our economic recovery and help provide more High Peak residents better job opportunities.
“That is why I also support the new Lifetime Skills Guarantee to help people to space out their studies across their lifetimes, and take more high-quality vocational courses.
“Lifelong learning should play a vital part in levelling up the country—and levelling up the High Peak.”
