New measures announced to enhance UK technical education

 A new raft of measures have been announced that aim to enhance the standard of technical education available to young people and improve their chances of finding work after school.

In a keynote speech to business leaders at the British Chambers of Commerce Education summit, education secretary Justine Greening said the government will be working with the business community to put its plans - which include the introduction of new technical qualifications called T-levels - into action.

During the conference, the minister announced that £50 million will be spent from April 2018 to fund high-quality work placements to help prepare young people for skilled work, while £15 million will be dedicated to improving the further education system to ensure colleges and teachers are ready to deliver the new T-levels.

Additionally, plans for a Department for Education summit with businesses were announced for the coming autumn, during which the T-level curriculum will start to be developed in earnest.

This is in addition to the £500 million of extra government investment per year announced in the most recent budget, all of which is designed to help ensure that children attending UK schools have more opportunity to acquire the practical skills - from coding to engineering and construction to design - that are currently in high demand among British businesses.

Ms Greening said: "Delivering these reforms will be a challenge. I am clear there is only one way to get this right - through a genuine partnership between business, government and education professionals."

These measures come in response to recent calls from a number of business and education experts - including the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, Ofqual, the Association of Colleges and Lord Sainsbury - to enhance the standard of technical education in the UK.