Thousands of working adults are set to benefit from free courses aimed to rapidly upskill or retrain them in key STEM sectors including engineering, digital and construction to help address skills shortages and increase access to high-quality training alternatives that will help people find stable employment in better paid roles.
From later in October, the government will rollout 65 short and modular courses at ten Institutes of Technology across England. The courses will cover subjects including Artificial Intelligence, Digitisation of Manufacturing, Digital Construction, Agricultural Robotics, and Cyber Security, to be delivered through a combination of classroom and online learning.
The Institutes of Technology delivering the courses have been working in partnership with local businesses to ensure the courses address demand in the right areas. They specialise in delivering high-quality Higher Technical Education and training in STEM subjects, including digital, advanced manufacturing and engineering.
The Institutes of Technology will each be allocated a share of a total £6.4 million of government investment to help deliver the free courses, which will support 4,000 adults to find new careers and close the skills gap.
Courses are available to working adults over the age of 19 and will vary in length from 50 to 138 hours to give as much flexibility as possible.
The government has also awarded a share of £18 million to 100 further and higher education providers to invest in new, state-of-the-art equipment to support higher-quality training.
Michelle Donelan, minister for Further and Higher Education, said that ensuring training was accessible to adults at any stage of their lives was a priority for the government.
Donelan said: “Making sure more people can train and develop at any stage to secure high skilled, high paid jobs is at the heart of our plans.
“These fantastic new courses will open up more training alternatives for adults, address skills gaps in our economy and level up opportunities across the country. We are also investing up to £18 million to support over 100 further and higher education providers to expand the higher technical training on offer to their local communities.”
The government has prioritised increasing the quality of Higher Technical Qualification courses and the amounts of people enrolling, following a major review of higher technical education which concluded that these courses could provide the skillset needed for people to progress into skilled and well-paid roles.
The government plans to rollout newly approved Higher Technical Qualifications from September next year, starting with Digital, with Construction and Health to follow in 2023. Ministers plan to make a full suite of Higher Technical Qualifications available by 2025.
The government has added that these qualifications provide a “natural progression route” for young people taking T Levels or A Levels, as well as adults looking to upskill and retrain to work in STEM roles.
For Vocational Skills Solutions, a national private training provider, the government’s ambitions are very much aligned with their own vision of ensuring that all people can achieve stable employment. In the opinion of managing director, Phil Juniper, however, it is critical that any course looking to upskill individuals goes further than simply giving people skills; they must also change people’s mindsets and guarantee access for all.
Juniper said: “Having had plenty of experience working with unemployed individuals over the age of 19 who are almost ready for work or among the furthest away from employment, we aim to provide a career path for a better future for themselves and their families.
“Career development is so important, and it comes from a plan. It’s not just about giving people skills – it’s about changing their mindset. Family-wide social issues and deeply entrenched deprivation are such obstacles for people to overcome. Many learners will present on their programmes that we provide with specific needs that may have prevented them participating in adult education in the past, and this demonstrates the need for high quality additional pastoral support on any such courses to meet learner needs and break down progression barriers.
“We are passionate about ensuring that learners can be supported with the specific needs required and can gain skills and confidence needed to participate in society, progress in education and work and achieve their desired outcomes. A better life is available to all, and everyone should know that reaching that is achievable.”
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