Learning and skills play a central role in driving economic growth across the UK. But the Learning and Work Institute's recent report found that the UK's skills development continues to lag behind its international counterparts, and will likely continue to fall until 2030 as a result of ongoing skills shortages.  

While the UK has introduced many policies to support the development of skills – from the £34 million boost for Skills Bootcamps in last year's budget, to the apprenticeship levy - an ongoing challenge for this government and the future government, is to make sure these skills policies deliver on both a national and local level.