In a time of political debate and economic uncertainty, one issue has achieved rare consensus: skills training. Across the UK, politicians, employers and education providers agree that investment in training and apprenticeships is vital for growth, productivity and opportunity.
As we at SERT continue to track national discussions around skills development, one thing is clear: funded training is one of the few policy areas with genuine cross-party support.
From apprenticeships and adult training programmes to technical qualifications and lifelong learning, the belief that Britain must boost its skills infrastructure has shifted from a specialist topic to a mainstream priority.
And that’s a change worth celebrating.
Labour: Scaling Skills for Growth
Labour’s stance is clear: skills are infrastructure.
At the recent party conference, Keir Starmer announced £800 million in additional funding for 16–19 education and confirmed the creation of 14 new Technical Excellence Colleges. These will stand alongside universities as “gold-standard” routes into skilled employment.
The focus on higher-level technical skills and apprenticeship programmes highlights a growing recognition that vocational learning is just as valuable as academic study, which is a crucial message for employers and learners alike.
Conservatives: Redirecting Resource
At the Conservative Party Conference, Kemi Badenoch outlined plans to double the apprenticeship budget, redirecting funds from so-called “rip-off degrees” towards employer-led training.
The aim is to expand access to vocational routes, enabling more people to gain practical skills that meet industry needs, particularly in construction, energy and utilities.
For training providers, this commitment signals a continued government focus on workforce development and technical apprenticeships as a cornerstone of economic renewal.
Liberal Democrats: Opening Access for Adults
The Liberal Democrats’ “Opportunity for All” motion placed emphasis on adult learning and retraining.
Their proposal for a £10,000 Lifelong Training Grant, available at three life stages, is designed to help adults reskill, upskill and adapt to changing industries.
They have also called for VAT parity for FE colleges, more devolved funding and a reformed Skills England to provide strategic oversight of long-term training investment.
This approach reflects growing demand for flexible training options that support workers throughout their careers.
Reform UK: Building Trade Skills Locally
Reform UK continues to highlight the need for trade skills training and regional technical colleges. Their education plan includes a £5 billion annual investment to expand hands-on learning, modern apprenticeships and construction skills training.
While approaches differ, the goal remains consistent across all parties: technical education should be funded, respected and accessible nationwide.
What This Means for the UK Training Sector
For those of us in the training and skills development sector, this political alignment offers both encouragement and urgency.
At SERT, we see every day how funded training programmes empower individuals, support career progression and help businesses overcome skills shortages in the renewable energy, utilities and construction industries.
The message is clear: investment in skills is investment in the UK workforce. Whether through an apprenticeship, skills bootcamp or technical qualification, high-quality training changes lives and drives economic growth.
Our View
While we remain politically neutral, we’re firm believers in one thing: funding for training works.
Every pound spent on upskilling, reskilling and technical education delivers measurable impact for individuals, employers and the wider economy.
Across all parties, the message is finally united: training matters.
And for the thousands of people we train and place each year, that’s more than a slogan. It’s a pathway to opportunity.