Government plans to enable more adults in England to do training courses throughout their lifetimes will have an important role in tackling the national skills shortage and boosting productivity, according to the minister for higher and further education.
Michelle Donelan said the policy to introduce a “l(fā)ife-long loan entitlement” would address the UK’s low productivity growth and lack of key skills by “empowering the individual” to continue learning over the course of their career.
The plan, currently under a consultation that ends in May, will give those aged over 18 access to the equivalent of four years undergraduate funding, currently £37,000, to spend on short or long courses above A-level equivalent.