Innovation Economy: Skills

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington Excerpts

Monday 16th March 2020 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Berridge]

I am grateful to the noble Lord; I expected that this Question would highlight the role of the creative and arts sector. There has been a specific initiative in the apprenticeship space, which I have mentioned before in your Lordships’ House, because of the difficulties of a 12-month apprenticeship when we have an industry sector that has a lot of sole traders. We have therefore devised the apprenticeship training agency—I think that is what it is called—to be one employer, so that a number of placements can be created. We are committed to delivering apprenticeships in the creative sector.

[Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Con)]

My Lords, will the Minister outline what the Government are doing to ensure that future skills needs are better understood nationally?

[Baroness Berridge]

My Lords, it is essential that this is both a local and a national approach by the Government. A national skills and productivity board has been announced and is in development, made up of experts sitting at a national level. There are now 36 skills and advisory panels—similar name but different function—at local level, which include the FE sector and employers, so that at local level we can provide the skills that the local economy needs.