UK skills: some actions and reactions

The government has now formally confirmed that grants of £20,000 will be offered to maths graduates to encourage them to teach in further education colleges. The idea was first mooted in a consultation document released by education secretary Michael Gove back in 2011. Bursaries of £9,000 will also be available for graduates teaching English.

Businesses have long complained that they cannot recruit young people with the right maths and English skills. The government’s most recent Skills for Life Survey showed that 24 percent of the population (8.1 million people) lack basic numeracy, and 15 percent (5.1 million people) lack basic literacy.

Business secretary Vince Cable admits that too many businesses are telling him that they cannot find young people with the numeracy and literacy skills they need. "It’s not just those planning on going to university who need to have a firm grasp of English and maths," says Dr Cable. "These basic competencies are needed for all types of employment and it is not possible to enter a full apprenticeship until then."

Skills minister Matthew Hancock confirmed that the bursaries will be available for two years as part of a government commitment to raising standards in the teaching of maths and English across the board. The intent is to measure and record subsequent improvements in English and maths arising as a result of the scheme, with a view to extending it to other subjects.

Forum of Private Business chief executive, Phil Orford welcomed the news, believing it will go some way to addressing the needs of employers looking to recruit young people.

“The mismatch between employers’ needs and the local job market continues to cause concern for our members, in particular the large number of young people leaving education lacking in basic numeracy and literacy skills," Mr Orford says. In a recent survey by the Forum, over half of its members saw basic skills as crucial for prospective employees.

Meanwhile, a new CBI report (Tomorrow's Growth) claims the UK will fail to close its chronic skills gaps without urgent action to boost advanced 'learn as you earn' training and more business-designed degrees.

The report argues that relying on traditional university courses alone will not meet the growing demand for degree-level, technical skills in key sectors like manufacturing, construction, IT and engineering.

It says that government needs to remove a series of barriers to better co-operation between higher education and industry. And it urges ministers to address the 40 percent drop in part-time undergraduate applicants since 2010-11.

The CBI warns businesses need to tackle the perception that A-levels followed by a three-year residential course is the only route to a good career, with higher tuition fees meaning young people are getting more astute in deciding what to study from age 18.

The business group says there are not enough courses with business links, patchy understanding of student finance and poor careers advice on options open to young people, and argues that a new vocational UCAS-style system could bridge the gap. The CBI urges universities to boost the number of employer-backed 'sandwich' courses and compressed or part-time degrees, which give students practical work experience or allow them to support their studies.

And it says businesses need to expand their commitment to high-quality training schemes – such as higher & advanced apprenticeships; work-based training; and fast-track schemes aimed at school leavers - alongside traditional degrees.

The report, Tomorrow's Growth, is available to read here.

Les Hunt
Editor