Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is lobbying ministers for even greater control of further education in the capital and would like to see his fellow mayors across the country gain extra powers too.

The deputy mayor for skills Jules Pipe told Tes the mayor’s office would like to see the budget for the careers information, advice and guidance service devolved to London and the metro mayor areas as well as unspent apprenticeship levy cash, which Pipe thinks will be “particularly high in London unfortunately”.

He said there was a “significant need” to help develop Londoners soft skills where they were lacking to help them move up in work and training. He added: “Careers advice services have withered in this country over the years. It has been raised throughout the foundation of the strategy and discussed with stakeholders.

‘One step at a time’

Pipe suggested that the service could be used by people of all ages, as well as skills providers and employers

The mayor’s office has been lobbying the government for this enhanced level of devolution, and while Pipe said the skills minister Anne Milton “has been helpful” with the adult education budget, further devolution does not look imminent.

“With regard to the unspent levy and advice and guidance, I think the view is ‘one step at a time’. We will continue pushing and lobbying though as we have been since AEB devolution was first raised.”

London mayor Sadiq Khan launched the capital’s “first-ever mayor-led skills strategy” at the King’s Cross Construction and Skills Centre today.