June 2015
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Local Leaders Working to Close the UK Skills Gap

Monday, June 1, 2015

A recent report found that the United Kingdom has one of the largest skills gaps in the developed world. Local leaders are working to remedy this problem, but there is a long way to go. Tim Farron, the member of Parliament for Westmoreland and Lonsdale, says that improving young people’s skills and increasing the talent pool is absolutely critical in the effort to strengthen the local economy and increase the region’s productivity. “In South Cumbria we have lots of businesses that need skills, but we are very lucky to have some brilliant local schools and colleges,” he says. “Locally, I have tried to support and boost apprenticeships because we need to support young people to earn and learn and allow businesses to grow. But we can and must do more.” Last January, the Commons Public Accounts Committee cautioned that many young people were falling “off the radar” after graduation. These individuals missed opportunities for support, advice, and training. Farron says that increasing access to personalized training programs and apprenticeships will help get these young people back on track and into the labor pool.

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