Young people from across Nottinghamshire are set to benefit from 120,000 new training opportunities as part of a radical skills revolution, giving them the chance to develop skills where they are most needed across the workforce.
More skilled bricklayers, carpenters and healthcare support workers will be among those trained to expand the country’s domestic skills base. It is estimated that there will be an additional 30,000 apprenticeship starting over the next four years.
Backed by a record-breaking £3 billion apprenticeship budget, the government wants to create more opportunities for young people in careers that the country vitally needs to prosper. More routes into skilled work should mean more affordable homes, more care for NHS patients and more digital experts to help grow the UK’s economy.
James Naish, MP for Rushcliffe, has welcomed the investment having recently promoted apprenticeships in the energy sector where he worked before being elected to parliament. He said: “This record investment into our younger workforce, as well as people seeking to retrain, is critical to enabling the decade of national renewal that we know is required across multiple sectors. We shouldn’t write off younger generations – we need to support and invest in them, so they can support today’s workforce as it gets older.”
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said: “A skilled workforce is the key to steering the economy forward, and today we’re backing the next generation by giving young people more opportunities to learn a trade, earn a wage and achieve and thrive. When we invest in skills for young people, we invest in a shared, stronger economic future.”
Among several measures being taken, the government plans to:
- Launch 13 new Level 2 construction courses for adults in non-devolved areas under the ‘Free Courses for Jobs’ scheme.
- Refocus funding away from Level 7 (Master’s level) apprenticeships from January 2026. This will enable levy funding to be rebalanced towards training at lower levels where it can have the greatest impact.
- Implement a 32% increase in the Immigration Skills Charge which will deliver up to 45,000 additional training places to upskill the domestic workforce.
In addition to the £3 billion apprenticeship budget, the government is backing the new generation of workers through:
- £14 million of adult skills funding for construction which will be devolved to local mayors from September.
- £136 million for ‘Skills Bootcamps’ across a range of priority sectors, providing training to over 40,000 learners.
- Establishing 10 Technical Excellence Colleges specialising in construction skills, opening in September 2025.
These announcements follow the government’s £45 million commitment to a “Youth Guarantee” which will ensure all young people have the chance to upskill, earn or learn. The East Midlands is one of eight trailblazer regions which will match young people to job or training opportunities and will provide all-important foundations for the national roll-out of the Youth Guarantee during this parliament,
Sarah Yong, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Youth Futures Foundation, said:
“International evidence shows apprenticeships are a highly impactful way to support young people to prepare for and access jobs, yet participation among under-25s, especially the most marginalised, has declined in recent years. With stubbornly high youth unemployment and inactivity, rebalancing the apprenticeship system can encourage investment in youth apprenticeships and is a first step in enabling more young people to access good work.”
