Responding to the new Skills for Jobs White Paper from the Department for Education that aims to improve post-16 education and training, put employers at the heart of the system as well as enshrining the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chair Mike Cherry said:
“Small businesses have long been at the very forefront of upskilling and training and this White Paper is another step to ensuring that can continue for the future. Central to this is making sure that small businesses are afforded the financial support and guidance necessary to help with training the workforce as well as those who are unemployed. It is particularly important at this difficult time when so many small businesses are trying to survive and build back their businesses.
“For too long small firms have been priced out of hiring an apprentice, and with a turbulent economic climate it’s these small firms who need the support more than big businesses. More support would help to increase the number of apprenticeships in small businesses during the recovery.
“Support for local skills is important not only to help get people onto the working ladder, but also to help small businesses recover and grow.
“If we are going to have a system that helps small businesses and is truly employer-led, then we need to ensure that the voice of small firms is heard at all stages. In doing so, engagement with FSB, both locally and nationally, as well as individual small firms is crucial to identifying what works and what wouldn’t.
“FSB already has a vast and largest local network right across the country and these could be used to help positively influence how we improve technical and further education, upskilling individuals and kickstarting the economy once again.”
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About FSB
As the UK’s largest business support group, FSB is the voice of the UK’s small businesses and the self-employed. Established over 40 years ago to help its members succeed in business, FSB is a non-profit making and non-party political organisation that’s led by its members, for its members. As the UK’s leading business campaigner, FSB is focused on delivering change which supports smaller businesses to grow and succeed.
FSB offers members a wide range of vital business services, including access to finance, business banking, legal advice and support along with a powerful voice in Government. Each year FSB also runs the UK’s Celebrating Small Business Awards. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk. You can follow us on twitter @fsb_policy and on Instagram @fsb_uk.