Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP delivering his Spring Budget 2024, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has reacted with disappointment at the lack of further invest in skills – and has called on whichever party wins the next General Election to use the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review to put this right.
Ben Rowland, AELP Chief Executive, said:
"Only economic growth will improve the gloomy situation, and that requires a vibrant skills system. We need to invest in skills at all levels as so many of our economic and societal problems stem from this lack of investment, yet the Chancellor doesn’t seem to recognise this basic truth. As a result, we’ve just seen another disappointing budget where skills seems to have been forgotten once again.
“We urgently need a national conversation about what level of funding is required to close the country’s skills gap. Given proposed cuts to non-ringfenced departmental budgets and previous eroding of funds for undervalued and often overlooked, adult education feels particularly vulnerable and at risk in the future. Although we’re pleased to see apprenticeships remain an employer-led all-age, all-levels system, we are concerned about problems being stored up for the future with actual spending on apprenticeships leaving limited headroom for growth and much needed funding rate increases.
“Whoever makes up the government of the day at the next Comprehensive Spending Review has the chance to use it as an opportunity to inject much needed resource into the skills sector. AELP urges all political parties to ensure skills investment is a priority in their forthcoming General Election manifestos."
The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) is a national membership body, proudly representing its many member organisations. AELP members support thousands of businesses and millions of learners in England by delivering a wide range of training, vocational learning, and employability programmes.
For further information or interviews please contact Matt Strong, Communications Manager, AELP, on 07920 161685 or [email protected]
AELP Reacts To Spring Budget 2024
Following the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP delivering his Spring Budget 2024, the Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has reacted with disappointment at the lack of further invest in skills – and has called on whichever party wins the next General Election to use the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review to put this right.
