Lords future skills inquiry hears from apprentices and training provider representatives

The session will run from 10.30am on Tuesday 21 May and can be followed live on Parliament TV or in person in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster.

Giving evidence at 10.30am from training providers will be:

• David Hughes CBE, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Colleges;
• Ben Rowland, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Employment and Learning Providers.

Possible questions include:

• What types of skills do you think employers will need for the future?
• What has your experience been of engaging in the development and implementation of Local Skills Improvement Plans?
• Do you view apprenticeships as primarily a vehicle for providing young people with the skills they need to enter the workforce, or as a vehicle for training more broadly, including upskilling and retraining older workers?

Giving evidence on apprenticeship experiences at 11.30am will be:

• Alexia Williams, Apprentice Panel Member, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education;
• James Stephenson, Apprentice Panel Member, Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education;
• Sian Elliot, Senior Policy Officer for public services and skills, Trades Union Congress.

Possible questions include:

• How did you hear about the opportunity to become an apprentice, and do you feel that this was an option that was clear and well-known to your peers?
• Is it easy for individuals to understand what training and apprenticeship options there are, and do employers and training providers give clear information on this?
• What roles do trade unions play in the skills system and how do they engage with employers on training and skills?

The Committee’s call for evidence for the inquiry is open until Thursday 30 May. Details about how to submit evidence are available on the Committee’s website.