Stephen Isherwood shares key points from ISE’s response, which focuses on supporting students preparing for the future workforce.
The UK Government is looking to boost skills development through reform of the further education sector, the creation of Skills England, and transforming the Apprenticeships Levy into the Growth and Skills Levy.
The Education Committee is considering how further education could better equip young people with the technical skills and qualifications they need across a range of sectors and issued a call for evidence on Further Education (FE) and Skills, to which the ISE responded.
ISE’s full response will be available once the Committee has published its accepted evidence. In the meantime, here are some of the key points, focused on the key issues and recommendations we think are essential to prepare students for the future workforce.
Empowering the future workforce: ISE's vision for education and skills
The success of the UK economy hinges on how effectively the country educates and transitions students into the workforce, and how people can reskill and upskill throughout their careers.
ISE emphasised the importance of a vibrant early-in-career employment market for the UK's social and economic wellbeing. ISE believes that Further Education has a key role to play in developing student’s skills and in preparing them for an increasingly changeable career landscape.
Adapting to demographic and technological changes
Two major forces—demographic shifts and technological advancements—are reshaping the labour market. Declining birth rates and increasing life spans are making talent scarcer, while technology is increasing the demand for higher-skilled workers.
As a result, employers will focus less on age, education exit points, and prior technical experience, and more on skills and adaptability.
Broadening ‘early careers’
The definition of early careers is expanding to include career changers and those reskilling or upskilling.
Early careers teams are integrating more closely with HR and business functions, emphasising strategic workforce planning, learning cultures, technology, and data. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities for education providers, who must adapt to changing employer needs.
Navigating education and career pathways
ISE advocates for policies that deliver strong education and career opportunities to all students, valuing both vocational and academic routes. They call for accessible careers education, information, and guidance at all educational levels, and sustainable funding models that support experiential learning and skills development.
Improved access to careers advice and guidance, and skills development opportunities across the school and college system are crucial.
Embedding skills into the curriculum
Employers are increasingly prioritizing behavioural skills such as resilience, flexibility, and agility.
ISE recommends integrating essential workplace skills directly into the curriculum using an interdisciplinary approach. Practical IT proficiency, problem-solving, communication skills, and real-world applications of core subjects should be emphasised.
Teaching methods should clarify the importance of skills being learned, fostering confidence and self-awareness in students.
Employer interaction with education
ISE members advocate for deeper collaboration between education establishments and businesses. We suggest the government increases flexibility with levy funds to support a broader skills system, including more paid professional experience opportunities.
Flexible interaction methods, experiential learning activities, and greater connection between a school's careers work and the curriculum are recommended to develop links between studies, skills, and work.
In conclusion
The ISE on behalf of its members calls for an increased focus on behavioural skills across the curriculum, improved access to careers advice and guidance, and greater connections between studies, skills, and work. We also recommend reforms to T-Levels to enable more employers to offer placement opportunities to students.