Technical expertise is critical to the success of UK higher education, research and innovation, and the growth of the UK economy. The UK has a shortage of technicians across all sectors, and there are significant challenges impacting the current workforce.
We welcome Labour’s vision for a National Skills Taskforce to engage sector stakeholders, DfE, DSIT, and look forward to the inclusion of the technician workforce to maximise efficacy and inform skills policy.
The National Skills Taskforce, Skills England and the Growth and Skills Levy offer opportunities strengthen the UK’s technical workforce which is vital in supporting the future of the UK economy. As the political landscape shifts, we see there is value for the Labour Government giving consideration to:
Sustainable funding for technical skills development
The decision to include technicians in research grant budgets often rests with principal investigators, who are usually academics submitting the proposals. While some institutions properly account for technical staff in their grant budgets, this practice is inconsistent both across and within institutions.
Technicians face limited opportunities for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which is crucial for career advancement. Their contributions are often perceived as undervalued, partly due to a widespread lack of understanding about the competitive nature of technical expertise.
To address these issues, we recommend that the government shift from episodic to sustainable, long-term funding models to support and advance technical skills and talent. Efforts should focus on expanding access to CPD programs to close skill gaps, and on identifying critical technical shortages through the Migration Advisory Committee’s review.
Involving technical sector representatives in the National Skills Taskforce and allocating resources for ongoing training in key technology areas will be vital. Moreover, continuous investment in training, alongside strategies to improve equality, diversity, and inclusion within the technical workforce, will help it keep pace with rapid technological advancements.
Alignment of technical skills development with emerging UK critical technologies
We appreciate Labour’s In-Work Skills Development to support best practice for upskilling the workforce. As the technological landscape in science (specifically the 5 critical technologies; engineering biology, semiconductors, AI, quantum, and future telecommunications) rapidly evolves, investment in training the current technical workforce, who are also our future workforce is essential.
Upskilling technical professionals within higher education, research and innovation will be fundamental to the UK’s success in science, technology, engineering, medicine and the creative industries.
The ongoing value of apprenticeship opportunities at universities
Apprenticeship opportunities at universities and research institutes are crucial for developing the skilled technical workforce needed to drive the UK’s economic growth and innovation. These programmes provide essential hands-on experience with advanced technologies, helping to address skills shortages and support long-term career development.
We welcome Labour’s focus on high-quality skills and recommend sustained investment in training, upskilling, and retention to keep the UK competitive in research and innovation. Additionally, expanding support for T Level subject development and promoting their uptake is vital, particularly in emphasising their value. In the medium term, it’s important to ensure the Growth and Skills Levy strengthens, rather than diminishes, the value of university apprenticeships.
Effective coordination between career hubs and apprenticeship providers, especially within higher education, is also key. Finally, ensuring parity of esteem for T Levels remains a significant priority.
Inclusion of the technical voice within consultations on sector-level policy, which the Institute, as the national conduit for the technical voice in higher education and research, can support
We collaborate closely with funders, membership organisations, and supporting partners to accelerate and realise the full potential of UK technical skills and careers. We welcome the opportunity to work with the new Labour government on its vision for developing future skills.
Additionally, we are encouraged by Labour’s plans to introduce Trained Career Leaders in every school. We have already begun work in this area, appointing a Universities T Level Support Manager to connect the supply of industry placements from universities with the demand from technical education providers. We look forward to sharing our insights and progress with the government as we continue this important work.