UK Skills Policy and Delivery opportunities for the new government

How should the next government address this persistent challenge for the UK? What can business leaders do to forge long term partnerships with Westminster and Whitehall?

The availability of appropriate skills is a long-standing issue that negatively affects British business.

The issue has become particularly acute in the past couple of years. IoD research has found that, since the beginning of 2023, around 40% of IoD members have consistently stated that ‘skills shortages/employee skills gaps’ are having a negative effect on their organisation.

Action is needed to remedy skills and labour shortages across the UK to ensure that businesses are able to access the skills they need to grow and thrive. A whole-economy solution is needed, one which involves workplace training as much as it does the more traditional education routes for people at early stages of their careers.