Grantham MP Gareth Davies has praised planned changes in the education and training sector and demanded Lincolnshire schools and colleges receive their 'fair share' of funding.

The Government on Thursday published a new White Paper, 'Skills for Jobs: Lifelong Learning for Opportunity and Growth', which sets out planned reforms to technical education and skills.

The MP says on his website the White Paper is focused on giving people the skills they need, in a way that suits them, so they can get great jobs in sectors the economy needs and boost this country's productivity.

Education and skills are crucial to ensuring that we build back better with a world-leading skills system, his post continues.

The White Paper sets out a vision for long term reform of post-16 skills as well as announcing new policies on Local Skills Improvement Plans and a review of Further Education (FE) funding and accountability.

Building on its flagship apprenticeships programme, the government says its aim is to put employers at the heart of post-16 skills so education and training meets their needs and leads to good jobs for people.

By 2030, almost all technical courses will be on employer-led standards, ensuring that the education and training people receive are directly linked to the skills needed for jobs. The Government will also launch a strategic development fund to support the changes to local provision required to help providers meet the priority local skills needs that employers identify.

The Government says it is ensuring people have the opportunity to access technical education and training throughout their lives by delivering the Prime Minister's Lifetime Skills Guarantee, which includes a Lifetime Loan Entitlement from 2025, a free first A level equivalent qualification, and new flexible employer bootcamps.

On Thursday, the scope of the Prime Minister's Lifetime Skills Guarantee was extended to enable people to train and retrain throughout their lives – increasing employment opportunities including learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson commented:" Taken together, our reforms will transform the whole skills system and make it more flexible, building back better from the coronavirus pandemic, creating opportunities for individuals, and enabling this country to compete internationally with the best.

"Through these reforms, supported by high-quality careers advice, information and guidance, this government will ensure that everyone will be able to get the skills and training they need to get great jobs at all stages of their lives and wherever they live, and will have the means to lead a fulfilling and productive life."

Gareth Davies commented: "These reforms cannot succeed without outstanding teaching. Last year, I have spoken previously in the House of Commons about our brilliant local further education colleges.

"This announcement not only supports learners in the education system, but our fantastic local teachers. Recruiting and retaining excellent staff, through a national recruitment campaign and improved training and development, including an opportunity for teachers to gain valuable industry experience on our Industry Exchange programme, is promised as part of these reforms."

Earlier on Thursday, Mr Davies Gareth asked Education Secretary, Gavin Williamson MP for an assurance that Lincolnshire, and specifically Grantham and Stamford's colleges will receive their share of any new funding.

The MP said: "Boosting skills will be critical for levelling up counties such as mine, Lincolnshire. Can my right hon. Friend assure me and everyone in the Grantham and Stamford constituency that our local colleges will receive the resources they need to fully achieve our ambitions for young people?"

Gavin Williamson replied: "In my hon. Friend's constituency of Grantham and Stamford, there is already great provision in colleges. We want to make it even greater and make sure they have the resources to grow what they are doing.

"We want to make sure they are truly linked in with the local economy, because where there are skills shortages in his constituency, colleges are the first place that businesses turn to plug the gap.

"We want to make sure the economy and business are growing strongly and creating the employment that we all want in his constituency and all our constituencies."