Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to engage with the maritime sector to encourage training of maritime workers.

Meeting the skills needs of the next decade is central to delivering the government's missions across all regions and nations, which is why the department’s Ministers and officials regularly engage with business representative groups, employers, training providers and third sector organisations that represent all sectors.

Employers in the maritime sector have developed a number of apprenticeships to help meet their skills needs, including Level 2 Maritime Mechanical and Electrical Mechanic and Level 3 Maritime Electrical Fitter.

T Levels are a high quality technical option for 16 to 19 year olds. 21 subjects are now available, including three in Engineering and Manufacturing that are designed by relevant employers to meet the needs of the industry and to prepare students for work, further study or a higher apprenticeship.

In addition, Skills England is a new body that will tackle skills shortages and support sustained economic growth. Skills England will:

• Provide an authoritative assessment of national and regional skills needs in the economy now and in the future by combining the best available statistical data with insights generated from employers and other key stakeholders.
• Ensure that there is a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships, training and technical qualifications for individuals and employers to access that are aligned with skills gaps and what employers need. As part of this, Skills England will identify which training should be available via the new Growth and Skills Levy.
• Work together with combined authorities and other places with devolution deals, as well as other regional organisations, such as Employer Representative Bodies, to ensure that regional and national skills needs are met at all levels, from essential skills to those delivered via higher education, in line with the forthcoming Industrial Strategy.

The National Shipbuilding Strategy Refresh sets out the vision for a globally successful, innovative and sustainable UK shipbuilding enterprise. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/refresh-to-the-national-shipbuilding-strategy. The UK Shipbuilding Taskforce report made recommendations for the UK Government and devolved governments to take forward.

The department will support the National Shipbuilding Office, through the Shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group as they move to delivery. The department will continue to monitor their progress to understand the impact of any potential changes to the skills system on shipbuilding.