Skills are the key to economic growth

Growth is still eluding the UK economy, as it has for over a decade.

Without growth we cannot drive up living standards and improve public services.

We cannot get growth without a skilled UK workforce that can grasp opportunities of AI and other new technologies.

Both government and employers’ investment levels in skills have declined over the last ten years .

The model could include the development of accredited programmes, technical qualifications and micro-credentialling.

These could be recorded, where appropriate, in a digital skills passport to provide evidence to stakeholders that the person has the right skills for the job.

Such an approach could underpin consumer confidence in the goods and services they are buying.