Education and skills matter to us all, determining our opportunities as individuals, the growth of our businesses and the productivity of the wider economy. The current skills system is not delivering the skills that UK businesses or the economy needs. Skills shortages consistently top the list of concerns of business leaders in an annual survey, while the lack of powers over skills is a concern for local leaders. Without addressing this issue, the skills gap will only grow wider. If the UK is to improve productivity, and build an economy fit for growth, focusing on delivering the right skills for the economy, the improvement of people and the growth of businesses will be essential.

The vote to leave the EU has drawn renewed attention on the need to reshape the UK economy and create an agile, highly skilled workforce which makes the UK a place where companies want to invest, where products drive trade and where people have access to opportunity.