Devolution and evolution in UK skills policy
A report seeking common ground in skills policy across the UK’s four nations

A report seeking common ground in skills policy across the UK’s four nations
The UK’s skills systems across its four nations have seen increasing divergence in recent years. This has made for a complicated landscape for employers and people professionals to navigate and a difficultly in finding common ground between nations.
This report sets the context of longstanding megatrends impacting the UK’s world of work, arguing that skills development policy is the key policy lever needed in response. It compares and summarises current labour market and skills challenges across the four nations as well as employer approaches to training, and provides an overview of key public policy developments.
The second half of the report focuses on our apprenticeship systems. These have seen the biggest evolution and divergence since 2017 and therefore offer a useful case study.
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