East Midlands Chamber has welcomed a policy outlined by the Prime Minister during a visit to Derby, for mayors, local leaders and businesses to help shape education in schools to align with the needs of firms in their region.
Launched during a visit to the Alstom train factory on 28th July, the Prime Minister’s plan for 14-16s is set to take effect from September 2028. From Year 10, students will be able to combine traditional academic subjects like English, maths and science, with technical education and work experience.
East Midlands Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “We’ve been calling for the skills gap to be addressed in a number of ways for some time, as outlined in our publication The Framework for Growth, and this announcement is a clear step forward in tackling the problem and getting more candidates with skills that employers need into roles.
“The extent of the skills gap and how challenging it is for employers in the East Midlands is clear – our Quarterly Economic Survey has shown six out of ten businesses in the region have struggled to find suitable applicants.
“Apprenticeships and training are a brilliant route into work in many industries and the East Midlands is fortunate to have many great programmes, as well as outstanding higher and further education options. Those avenues open doors to employment but the more business can engage with educators, and the more a region like the East Midlands can influence a curriculum to be relevant to its businesses and their needs, the better.
“The detail of this plan will be important as it unfolds so we will be keen to see that as it emerges but at this early stage, I welcome the approach, which should be good for employers and good for growth.”
View East Midlands Chamber’s Framework for Growth here.
