The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has welcomed the political clarity provided by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, alongside much of the wider direction set out by ministers at the Labour Party Conference. Alongside the high-profile commitment to reform the triple lock to help fund a National Care Service, and unexpected announcements about our relationship with Europe and electoral reform, his speech also set out the Government’s case for greater public control, though not necessarily public ownership, of essential services including water, electricity, transport, social care and housing.
AELP believes that delivering all of these ambitions will require a holistic approach to skills: clearer pathways for young people, the conditions for employers to grow, recruit and train at all levels, a workforce able to meet the economic priorities, and the skills capacity required across essential services.
Apprenticeships
This Government understands the importance of apprenticeships which we welcome. We also stand ready, as always, to offer the insight and evidence that comes from our members who are at the front line of making it all work.
The Prime Minister linked the forthcoming Alan Milburn Review on young people and work to planned changes in education and welfare, including “good quality pathways for all from 14” and “an apprenticeship at 18”. This sits alongside the Government’s existing commitment to 50,000 additional youth apprenticeship starts, which Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden reiterated at the conference.
Chancellor John Healey announced an extra £100 million of additional funding over two years to expand Local Apprenticeship Services to all existing Mayoral Strategic Authorities (MSAs) with directly elected mayors.
While we think the hub/brokerage model in a locality can work in improving and accelerating the pipeline of employers wanting to use apprenticeships, we do not like that this money comes from the levy, which should be reserved for actual apprenticeship delivery. We also urge MSAs to work with their local providers, especially Independent Training Providers who deliver the vast majority of apprenticeships, to co-create brokerages that will really make the difference.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell also called for “more pathways, not fewer”, including vocational GCSEs and post-16 apprenticeships.
Taken together, the commitments made at the conference place a clear emphasis on creating more opportunities for young people through apprenticeships and other routes into work.
Growth and employers
The Prime Minister said that his “theory of growth” was to retake control of essentials, devolve power to places and “optimise the conditions for businesses to grow”. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said that the Government’s reindustrialisation mission could not succeed without working with business, entrepreneurs and the science, technology and innovation base. The Chancellor further stated that businesses create the country’s jobs, wealth and growth, and linked growth to the ability of a sole trader to take on an apprentice.
However, AELP believes that the conference provided too little detail about the immediate action the Government will take to ease the costs facing employers. Employers’ confidence and capacity to recruit, take on apprentices and invest in other training will be central to the delivery of its ambitions.
Social care
The Prime Minister placed social care at the centre of his speech, telling care workers: “You are not invisible to me.” He linked reform of care to his wider ambition for a National Care Service.
This is an important recognition and AELP will seek reassurance that any future changes to the apprenticeship system recognise the importance of adult apprenticeships for people who enter or progress within this sector at different stages of their working lives.
Essential services
The Prime Minister said that the Government must “retake control of our essentials”. AELP believes that delivering this agenda will depend on the skills system being able to supply and develop the workforce required across essential services.
As in social care, people often begin or progress their careers in these sectors later in life. Employers will need apprenticeships and other skills programmes to recruit and train the workforce required.
Ben Rowland, Chief Executive of AELP, said:
“More pathways, not fewer, is the right ambition. But that must apply to people at every stage of working life, as well as to young people taking their first steps into work.
“The new local apprenticeship services offer the prospect of better engagement with smaller employers. Their success will depend on the detail of delivery and whether they help create the informed demand that providers can meet.
“Six years ago, many of the people who kept public services and infrastructure running would have been described as essential workers. Those workers will be needed to deliver the Government’s ambitions for essential services. As ministers respond to the Milburn Review, the design, scale and pace of change must widen opportunity for young people without closing doors for adults or weakening the providers and employers on which key sectors depend.
“Ministers must also address the immediate pressures on businesses. Employers need the confidence and capacity to create jobs, invest in training and play their full part in the growth the Government wants to achieve.”
The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) is a national membership body, proudly representing organisations operating in the skills sector. AELP members deliver a range of training and vocational learning – including the majority of apprenticeships as well as Skills Bootcamps, 16-19 Study Programme, Adult Education Budget and more.
For further information or interviews please contact Matt Strong, Head of External Communications, AELP, on 07920 161685 or [email protected]
AELP responds to Labour Party Conference 2026
The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has welcomed the political clarity provided by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, alongside much of the wider direction set out by ministers at the Labour Party Conference.
