10 Reasons Why UK Skills And Employment Are No Better Off Now Than In Thatcher’s Time

Constant change over the past three decades has damaged the UK’s skill system, according to a major new report published by the City & Guilds Group.

1. Since 1981 there have been 13 major acts of Parliament around skills. That’s one every two and a half years

2. Since 1981 there have been seven key reviews of vocational education and training – an eye-watering 1175 pages

3. These reviews have made a total of 202 recommendations

4. Over the last 20 years there have been 61 Secretaries of State with responsibility for skills and training policy

5. In the same period, there have been 18 ministers in charge of schools policy and 16 in charge of higher education

6. Skills and industrial policy has shifted departments no less than 10 times since the 1990s

7. Since 1981 you could have taken part in one of at least 19 different major vocational programmes and initiatives

8. And where has it got us? This is where we were in 1980

9. This is where we were in 1996

10. And this is where we were in September

Isn’t it time for a rethink?