Trade association Kbsa chair Richard Hibbert has urged “joined up thinking” from the new Skills England body, launched by the Prime Minister and Education Secretary, to boost the nation’s skills.

According to the Government, between 2017 and 2022, skills shortages in this country doubled to more than half a million and now account for 36% of job vacancies.

Skills England will bring together central and local Government, businesses and training providers, to provide oversight of the post-16 skills system, aligned to the Government’s Industrial Strategy.

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It will focus on supporting local areas to develop the skilled workforces they need – in particular construction and healthcare.

By working with the Migration Advisory Committee, Skills England will also help reduce reliance on overseas workers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Our skills system is in a mess, which is why we are transforming our approach to meet skills needs over the coming decades.

“They will help to deliver our number one mission as a government, to kickstart economic growth, by opening up new opportunities for young people and enabling British businesses to recruit more home-grown talent.

“From construction to IT, healthcare to engineering, our success as a country depends on delivering highly skilled workforces for the long-term. Skills England will put in place the framework needed to achieve that goal while reducing our reliance on workers from overseas.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The skills system we inherited is fragmented and broken.

“Employers want to invest in their workers but for too long have been held back from accessing the training they need.

“Skills England will jumpstart young people’s careers and galvanise local economies.

“It will bring businesses together with trade unions, mayors, universities, colleges and training providers to give us a complete picture of skills gaps nationwide, boost growth in all corners of the country and give people the opportunity to get on in life.

“The organisation will identify the training for which the growth and skills levy will be accessible – an important reform, giving businesses more flexibility to spend levy funds on training for the skills they need, which employers have long been calling for.”

Commenting on the launch of the Skills England body and his hopes for the KBB industry, Richard Hibbert commented: “Training and education in the UK needs a boost and some joined up thinking.

“I hope this new group will do all they say they will, and get on with it.

“The skills gap exists due to a number of reasons, including the payment of construction industry training levies, although the training options aren’t suitable for our industry.

“We really need more industry voices on the panel and joined up thinking to make sure the KBB industry can access suitable training.

“The Kbsa is currently discussing what our partners need regarding Training and Education and will reach out to the Government to make sure we are heard.”

Skills England will be established in phases over the next 9 to 12 months and will take over from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE).