Labour MP Ellie Reeves said the party intends to introduce a new skills levy aimed at boosting future economic growth.
Labour’s Deputy National Campaign Coordinator told GB News: “We've called for a growth and skills levy to replace the apprenticeship levy, which business say is inflexible and isn't working. It's not enabling them to skill up workers for the future.
“Apprenticeships are down 120,000 over the course of this Parliament, and it's crucial if we're going to grow our economy that the workforce has the skills that we need, so that's why we would introduce a growth and skills levy.”
In a discussion during Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster, she continued: “Half of it could be spent on apprenticeships, but the other half could be spent on training up the existing workforce and new starters in the skills that they need.
“It might be shorter courses or things that they need for the business to adapt to new science and technology.
“This will enable businesses to get the skills that they need and be done in conjunction with Skills England so that every region of the country can look at what skills that they need for the jobs in that area, so partnership working to make sure that the right skills are in place and businesses have the flexibility to train up workers in the skills that they need.”
She added: “Businesses are saying that they can't get the skills that they need, which is why the system needs reform to give employers and businesses more flexibility in getting the skills that they need.”
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