Committees

Skills England chiefs to face Education Committee on shaping the workforce

17 April 2025

The Education Committee will question the leaders of Skills England about progress with establishing the Government agency, which Ministers hope will increase the take up of apprenticeships, tackle skills shortages in key sectors and drive economic growth. 

In a second panel, MPs will hear from expert witnesses from the apprenticeship and skills sector about issues facing apprentices, training providers, and employers.  

The Chair, Vice Chair and CEOs of Skills England will first be questioned about when the new body will be fully functional, and concerns about the level of independence it will have from the Department for Education (DfE).

The establishment of Skills England is subject to legislation being passed, which would see it replace the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. 

In the last decade, the number of apprenticeship starts was highest in 2015/16, at 509,000, compared with 340,000 in 2023/24. 

There will be questions around how Skills England could promote a “comprehensive suite” of apprenticeships and further education courses to meet the skills needs of different sectors and regions, and on progress that has been made in developing a wider range of training options that employers can access using funds from the forthcoming Growth and Skills Levy.

Following previous work by the Committee, MPs will also be interested in how more employers can be encouraged to offer placements as part of T Levels. 

The second panel will answer questions on the fall in apprenticeship participation, the removal of requirements for adult apprentices to have GCSE maths and English, and the Government’s proposals not to include funding for Level 7 apprenticeships as part of the Growth and Skills Levy.  

The latter policy has been criticised by many in the sector, with industry bodies saying removing MA and MSc-equivalent apprenticeships will not necessarily lead employers to choose lower level apprenticeships instead. 

Witnesses

Panel 1 From 10am:

  • Phil Smith CBE, Chair at Skills England 
  • Sir David Bell, Vice Chair at Skills England 
  • Sarah MacLean, joint CEO of Skills England  
  • Tessa Griffiths, joint CEO of Skills England. 

Panel 2 from 11am:  

  • Ben Rowland, Chief Executive, Association of Employment and Learning Providers 
  • Dr Katerina Kolyva, Chief Executive, Education and Training Foundation 
  • Emily Rock, Chief Executive, Association of Apprentices 
  • Jane Hadfield, Co-Chair, The St Martin’s Group and National Lead, Apprenticeships for NHS England

Further information