Cllr Mark Hawthorne, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s People and Places Board, responds to the report from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development into employers’ under-investment in training.
“Councils are fully behind skills development for their own workforces, local businesses and residents, which is vital to help get people into work or progress in their careers, drive up productivity and start to close skills gaps.
“Councils are concerned that the current skills training system doesn’t work for everybody which is why the LGA has consistently called for reform to the Apprenticeship Levy.
“That means that the new Prime Minister needs to ensure that councils, who are often the biggest employers in their local areas, have the ability to design, plan and tailor training and skills development to meet local skills gaps.”
Notes to editors
- In July 2019, the LGA re-launched Work Local – an ambitious but practical vision for devolved and integrated employment and skills provision.
- The LGA has also put together a series of Skills Taskforce roundtables designed to bring together industry experts and sector representatives with an interest in making our skills and employment system as effective as possible. Further information can be found here.
- Councils in England face an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025. The LGA’s #CouncilsCan campaign calls on the new Prime Minister to ensure the forthcoming Spending Review secures the future of vital local services and the long-term financial sustainability of councils. Visit our campaign page for more information.