A ‘new localism’ for public learning is required to ensure a skills-led economic recovery, a report has claimed.
Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and combined authorities should lead efforts to integrate regional skills with economic growth strategies by developing plans that support local growth, according to the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).
The charity said local skills strategies should be used to direct EU funding streams and capital to support local priorities.
NIACE’s Skills for prosperity report also put pressure on the Government to combat ‘Whitehall silos’ by creating a single department responsible for education, skills and work.
‘We must empower every adult to take ownership of their own learning and development. A new “learner-centred” system, and a new localism, will give people, employers and localities more control. This can meet labour market and skills shortages, fill skills gaps, and help people to stay healthy, productive, happy and prosperous, over longer working lives and in retirement,’ David Hughes, chief executive of NIACE, said.
‘The country faces huge challenges which require a skills-led recovery but our current skills system is not designed to face those challenges.’
