When the UK government announces a £275 million investment into technical training, apprenticeships, and the future of manufacturing and engineering, it certainly grabs my attention. As CEO of Learn Trade Skills (LTS), a family-run training centre that’s helped thousands of aspiring electricians and tradespeople begin their careers, I’ve seen first-hand how investment – or the lack of it – shapes the talent pipeline that feeds our industries.
This latest announcement, unveiled by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, outlines new funding for technical excellence colleges, short courses in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital manufacturing, and much-needed upgrades to training provider infrastructure. Framed as the beginning of a 10-year industrial strategy, it’s a bold statement: one aimed at rebuilding Britain’s skills capacity from the ground up, while countering the appeal of parties like Reform UK in working-class, post-industrial heartlands.
As someone deeply embedded in technical education and electrical installation training courses, I want to break down what this means for learners, employers, and the future of vocational training in the UK — and why, despite some positives, it needs to go much further to truly reset our industrial future.
For years, we’ve heard political rhetoric around “building back British industry” — but little in terms of sustainable investment into the actual workforce. This £275m package, however modest compared to the scale of the challenge, is at least a move in the right direction.
At Learn Trade Skills, we train electricians every week who are desperate for modern, hands-on learning environments. Too many training centres are working with outdated tools, sub-par facilities, and a qualification system that doesn’t align with the real needs of industry. So the announcement that funding will go toward “major capital upgrades” is promising — if, and only if, the money actually reaches high-quality independent training providers, not just large colleges or quangos.
But what excites me most is the emphasis on AI and digital manufacturing. The trades are changing. Whether it’s smart home installations, electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, or solar PV systems integrated with battery storage, the electrician of tomorrow needs to understand digital tools and data as well as circuits and cable calculations. Introducing short, flexible courses to upskill young people and existing workers in these emerging technologies could be transformational.
The government highlights a stark statistic: one in seven young people is neither in education nor in employment. That’s around 800,000 individuals whose talent is being wasted, many of whom live in the same “red wall” communities the industrial strategy seeks to revitalise.
At LTS, we work closely with 16–24-year-olds every month. Many feel they’ve been let down by a school system that prioritised university pathways over hands-on careers. They’re eager to work, eager to learn, and they flourish when given practical skills and real career progression.
The issue? Entry points into apprenticeships are limited. Funding is fragmented. The number of apprenticeships has dropped nearly 20% since 2016, and employers, particularly SMEs, are confused by the bureaucracy of the levy system.
A truly effective strategy needs to do more than throw money at infrastructure. It needs to simplify funding routes, incentivise employers to take on apprentices without fear of red tape, and build career visibility in the trades from the age of 13, not 18.
The government’s stated aim of “ending the overreliance on foreign labour” is politically loaded. But I’ll be blunt — it’s also overdue. For decades, the UK has plugged skills gaps in construction, electrical work, and manufacturing by importing talent, instead of growing it at home.
That’s not a dig at foreign workers — many of whom I’ve had the privilege to work alongside, and who have helped build this country’s infrastructure. But it is a wake-up call that we haven’t prioritised domestic training and workforce development nearly enough.
To solve this, we need a proper pipeline. That starts with young people at school, continues through funded Level 2 and Level 3 trade qualifications, and extends into advanced apprenticeships and even degree-level technical qualifications in smart systems, renewables, and AI-integrated engineering.
The new “technical excellence colleges” proposed in this strategy could be a game-changer — if they’re regionally distributed, accessible, and supported by employers who shape the curriculum in real-time.
Let’s put this in perspective: £275 million over four years is less than £70 million per year. The government already announced a £187 million AI skills package earlier this year, and there’s a £3 billion apprenticeship fund in the pipeline too.
So while the headlines sound big, the scale is modest. Upgrading hundreds of training providers, launching new tech colleges, rolling out short courses, and covering capital investment will stretch that money thin.
That said, strategic spending can have an exponential impact. For example, at LTS, just £100,000 invested in
a smart training lab enabled us to deliver cutting-edge EV charger and solar installation training, and dramatically increased learner confidence and job placement rates.
If the government channels funding into centres of proven excellence, supports training providers with clear application routes, and ensures funding isn’t wasted on admin-heavy bureaucracy, it can transform technical education.
Let me be clear: this industrial strategy is a step forward. But to truly revitalise British industry and upskill the next generation, we need bolder reform:
Bridget Phillipson called this an “economic and social reset.” I agree — but only if we ensure the funds are used wisely, inclusively, and urgently.
As Director of Learn Trade Skills, I see the potential in every learner who walks through our doors. They don’t need promises — they need practical support, modern tools, and real job opportunities.
This strategy is a chance to rewrite the future of trades in the UK. Let’s not waste it.
The government’s £275 million investment is part of a broader industrial strategy aimed at boosting technical education across England. It includes funding for new technical excellence colleges, capital upgrades for training centres, and short courses in areas like artificial intelligence and digital manufacturing. The goal is to tackle long-standing skills shortages in industries like engineering, battery production, and defence.
From my experience running a training centre, this is a positive move — but the real impact will depend on how that funding is delivered and who it reaches.
To an extent, yes. While the funding isn’t exclusively aimed at trades like electrical installation, it supports the kinds of technologies and training that are becoming increasingly relevant in our field — such as smart home systems, solar PV, and EV charging.
However, there still needs to be direct investment into core trade qualifications and the practical infrastructure required to deliver high-quality vocational education.
Potentially, yes. The government’s plan to invest in technical colleges and modern courses suggests there will be new pathways opening up. It’s a positive step for anyone looking to retrain or start their career in technical fields.
That said, you’ll still need to choose the right provider and potentially secure an apprenticeship placement. The funding might help remove some of the current barriers, but it won’t replace the need for commitment, practical training, and employer partnerships.
The government’s stated aim is to reduce reliance on overseas workers by building a stronger domestic skills base. This is partly a political decision, but it also reflects the reality that we haven’t invested enough in training our own workforce.
At Learn Trade Skills, we believe in developing local talent and giving people the tools they need to succeed. Skilled trades are vital to the UK economy, and creating opportunities at home is the best long-term solution.
No. The apprenticeship levy is a separate system where large employers contribute to a fund that’s meant to support apprenticeship training. However, many employers find the system complicated and difficult to use.
The £275 million strategy is more about direct government investment into training providers and new programmes. That said, if the government wants to really improve apprenticeship uptake, reforming the levy would be an essential next step.
It could — if the funding is made accessible. A large portion of the money is earmarked for upgrading training infrastructure, which could benefit centres like ours. At LTS, we’ve already invested in advanced training setups for renewables, smart systems, and energy-efficient technologies.
If the funding supports independent training providers with a proven track record, it could allow us to expand our reach and provide even better training for students across the region.
The government has referenced short courses in AI, digital manufacturing, and advanced technology sectors. While details are still emerging, we expect these to include intensive training in automation, robotics, and smart energy systems.
These areas are increasingly relevant for tradespeople, especially electricians working with renewables and integrated technologies. It’s important that training providers stay up to date with these trends — and funding helps make that possible.
It’s a good start, but on its own, it’s not enough. When you consider the scale of skills shortages across multiple industries, and the number of learners and training centres involved, the investment will need to be backed by further action.
We need reforms to how apprenticeships are funded, more support for small employers, improvements in school-level careers advice, and clear national strategies for lifelong learning and reskilling. If this funding is the first of many steps, it could form part of a real transformation.
Tolga Aramaz is the Director of Learn Trade Skills (LTS), a family-run training centre specialising in electrical installations. With years of experience and a deep understanding of the electrical industry, Tolga is known for their exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to delivering outstanding results. They provide valuable insights and guidance to electricians, contractors, and businesses, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and safety protocols. Through engaging training programmes and consultancy services, Tolga empowers professionals to excel in their roles, fostering long-term relationships built on professionalism and customer satisfaction.
Learn Trade Skills (LTS) is a Vocational Training Centre based in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire that specialises in training electricians.
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William Goss
Electrician course
11/11/2024
