Properly supported Further Education is key to Britain's prosperity
Work in the UK is changing, and the future prosperity of our businesses will depend on our ability as a nation to upskill and reskill workers to meet the challenges ahead of us.
This is not an issue that can be dismissed as something that will only impact us in the distant future, however. According to the Learning and Work Institute, within 5 years, the UK could face a £120 billion loss due to a projected shortfall of 2.5 million highly skilled workers.
In my constituency of Shipley today, local businesses tell me about the difficulties they face in recruiting people with the necessary digital and tech skills. And this issue is consistent across the country, as both large and small businesses report challenges in finding staff who possess the right skills.
However, what makes this issue all the more frustrating is that it has been, to a large extent, self-inflicted.
Over the last decade and more, further education in this country has been cut to the bone. Spending on adult skills and apprenticeships nationally in 2024-25 was 23 per cent lower than it was in 2009-10, and the total number of adults participating in FE has dropped from 4.4 million in 2003/04 to 1.5 million in 2019/20.
By every measure, further education is one of the key drivers of the British economy, serving as a vital bridge between compulsory schooling and higher education or employment. These institutions help enhance productivity, address skills gaps, and promote social mobility. But severe funding cuts have left them crying out for support.
During my time as a Member of Parliament, I have witnessed first-hand the tremendous impact that a well-run college can have on the local community. Shipley College, for example, is the leading institution for health training in our area and has established a strong partnership with Bradford Royal Infirmary.
I recently visited the college, where I had the opportunity to meet students and staff who were training with life-like robots that use AI-generated voices to simulate conversations with patients. This innovative approach clearly boosts students' confidence and prepares them far better than traditional teaching methods.
Thanks to government funding, the college has invested in incredible resources, including human simulators, Anatomage tables for studying anatomy and physiology, and immersive classrooms that allow students to practice delivering skilled care in realistic, low-risk scenarios.
FE colleges require significant investment to upgrade and maintain their buildings, facilities, and equipment, which is essential for providing modern learning environments and access to the latest technology. Since colleges were returned to public ownership, they have lost the ability to borrow money for capital projects. They must now seek permission from the Department of Education to obtain funds, a process that is often slow and limits staff ambitions for further capital investment.
With proper support, FE colleges can significantly enhance productivity in key sectors, including engineering, healthcare, digital technology, and construction. They can create skilled technicians and specialists, enabling businesses to grow, innovate, and remain competitive.
I am pleased that this Labour Government is committed to equipping the workforce with the skills needed to rebuild Britain, particularly through the establishment of Skills England. I support devolution to empower local areas and colleges to tailor their offerings to local labour market needs and community demands.
By improving and effectively supporting further education, we can also increase social mobility and address the stark regional disparities across the UK, which is one of our core Labour values.
FE institutions encourage participation from learners with disadvantaged backgrounds by offering flexible schedules, part-time study options, and personalised support services to help overcome barriers to education. This approach is particularly valuable in cities like Bradford, where 10 per cent of the population lacks any qualifications, contributing significantly to issues such as poverty, unemployment, and low-paying jobs.
For many, further education represents the most affordable and practical route to upskilling, career advancement, or progression to university.
These colleges are crucial not only to the UK's education system but also to nearly every aspect of our economy. I believe it is time to effectively support them again, as the last Labour Government did.
Anna Dixon has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Shipley since July 2024.
