For many years, the skills conversation in our sector has centred on the entry pipeline: attracting young people, boosting apprenticeships, and strengthening technical education. These efforts remain essential, but they are not sufficient alone.
It can take up to four years for a new entrant to become fully competent, and meanwhile, our workforce is ageing. By 2030, around 80 percent of the people who will power our economy are already in employment today.
If the UK is serious about achieving its ambitious growth targets, we cannot afford to wait for the next generation to qualify.
Read the full article in DPA's February 2026 issue