Colleges from across the UK have come together to set out the measures they think the government needs to take to ensure the economy is ready for Brexit.

In a new report, entitled Developing a Four Nations College Blueprint for a Post-Brexit Economy, “a new social contract” is proposed. Sector leaders from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales urge the government to better fund all full-time and part-time students in both further and higher education.

They are also calling for an entitlement to maintenance grants up to the equivalent of the National Living Wage for all UK citizens, based on the principles of the Diamond Review in Wales.

‘Social partnership’

They say a “new social partnership” should be set up between colleges, employers, unions and governments to set a vision and a strategy to ensure its implementation.

David Hughes, chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said the challenges posed by a post-Brexit economy mean the country was looking at a major slowdown in skilled migration. “Furthermore, the increasing skills gap in areas like Stem and other key sectors mean we need to focus our efforts more than ever on having a technical education system which meets the needs of all - allowing them to train and retrain throughout their careers, with colleges being central to this,” he added.

Shona Struthers, chief executive of Colleges Scotland, added the blueprint “will assist in providing learners with the necessary professional, technical and vocational skills to succeed in the ever-evolving, innovative labour market”. 

“Colleges are at the heart of inclusive, sustainable economic growth and, by working collaboratively across the four nations of the UK, we can collectively build on our strengths, and effect positive change for the benefit of learners, employers and the communities we serve.”

Recommendations

• A lifetime learning entitlement. A legal entitlement allowing individuals to access cash to engage with education and training at the right time for them. This would be funded by ringfencing part of the adult education budget.
• National retraining programme. A relatively short-term investment to improve productivity, fill significant emerging skills gaps in priority areas, also to be funded through a ringfence of the adult education budget. 
• A better jobs deal. As recommended by the Resolution Foundation’s Intergenerational Commission, an active labour market programme offering practical support for younger workers in low-skilled and insecure employment to train to progress into better jobs.
• A new social contract. Based on the principles of the Diamond Review in Wales, guarantee fair funding for full-time and part-time students in both further and higher education across the Four Nations, with an entitlement to maintenance grants up to the equivalent of the Living Wage.
• College innovation fund. Building on the pioneering work in Scotland and Northern Ireland, -provide formula funding for colleges to support SMEs to adopt new technology and business practices to help improve productivity, with skills support for the workforce development needed to secure the business improvements.
• Making apprenticeships and higher technical standards work seamlessly. Establish a common framework of transferable standards and qualifications, recognised by employers and customised to the individual needs of the Four Nations, to ensure mobility of labour and help people progress in and into work.