Today in a major speech the Prime Minister has set out our plan to transform the provision of skills so that we can help people to retrain and find new, well-paid jobs as part of our agenda to Build Back Better.
This is part of a wider package that we promised in our General Election manifesto last year. As someone who has long-supported an increased focus on high-quality vocational training and apprenticeships, I welcome the recognition that we need to invest in our colleges and their buildings. By doing so, we will create centres of excellence for people to learn.
As important is an acknowledgement that our changing economy and the impact of the pandemic, will change the way we work and skills needed to find and create new and better jobs. The centre-piece of our proposals is the 'Lifetime Skills Guarantee.' This means adults in Great Yarmouth without an A-Level or an equivalent qualification will have the opportunity to take up a free, fully funded college course from next April. Alongside this, we are also making higher education loans more flexible, allowing people to space out their study across their lifetimes and take more high-quality vocational courses.
This is a very clear message, that the Government will help people get the skills they need at every stage of their lives. No one and no area should be left out everyone deserves the same opportunity. The delivery of a key manifesto pledge makes sure that is the case.