My name is Grace, and I am currently completing a Customer Service Practitioner Level 2 apprenticeship with Ginger Nut Training after progressing from a scholarship. Before this, I didn’t even understand how a modern-day apprenticeship worked, let alone how much one could …
Earlier this year, I spent a week travelling across the country and speaking with over 150 leaders of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The conversations took place in different places and sectors, but a consistent picture emerged. There is …
Skills England recently launched an updated first full version of a ground-breaking tool to help everyone speak the same language about skills. Developed in partnership with the Warwick Institute for Employment Research (IER), the University of Sheffield, and Omnifolio, the …
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already changing how organisations across the UK operate. From drafting documents and analysing data to supporting customers and improving services, many employers are starting to use AI in their day-to-day work. But simply having access to AI …
Across the skills system, there’s an incredible wealth of employer insight and experience. Through my time at Skills England, I’ve seen first-hand the value of drawing on this expertise and how it supports better decisions and outcomes. From engaging in …
ONS data shows that around one in eight young people aged 16-24 in the UK (about 957,000 individuals) are not in education, employment or training. The government’s recent announcement of a £1 billion youth employment package highlights just how urgent this …
Every young person deserves the chance to build a rewarding career, regardless of their background. That's the ambition at the heart of the government's opportunity mission, and the UK Youth Guarantee initiative, and it's an ambition that Skills England is working hard to deliver. This National Apprenticeship Week, we’ve been …
In our December 2025 blog, Deputy Chief Executive Gemma Marsh set out why apprenticeship assessment reform matters – we explained how simplifying and strengthening assessment can better serve apprentices, employers and the wider skills system. Since then, we’ve moved into …
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way we work. In order to benefit from the opportunities AI presents, boost economic growth and career success, it’s essential that people have the right skills and are confident in using them. The challenge Too many people in the UK lack digital …
In the summer of 2025, shortly after the creation of Skills England, I shared with you the priorities that will guide our work. Now, as we begin a new year, I’ve been reflecting on the enormous energy and commitment I’ve seen across our …