UK government unveils £275m boost to training and apprenticeships in England | Industrial policy
By: Aletha Adu Political correspondent | Published: 2025-06-21 23:00:00 | Source: www.theguardian.com
The government will present a £275m investment in technical training and apprenticeships as the centrepiece of its long-awaited industrial strategy, in a direct challenge to Nigel Farage’s growing influence in England’s manufacturing heartlands.
The package, announced by the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, on Sunday, includes funding for new technical excellence colleges, short courses in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital manufacturing, and major capital upgrades to training providers across England.
It aims to tackle longstanding skills shortages in engineering, defence and high-growth sectors such as battery production and advanced manufacturing.
Officials said the new strategy was designed to “end the overreliance on foreign labour” and ensure a pipeline of…
