Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government how, in developing the industrial strategy following their consultation on Invest 2035: the UK's Modern Industrial Strategy published in October 2024, the Department for Business and Trade will work with Skills England to ensure a strong pipeline of skilled professionals in the technology and cybersecurity sector.

The Industrial Strategy Green Paper is clear that the people that create and work in businesses will be central to the success of the growth-driving sectors and clusters. The government has established Skills England to better understand current and future skills requirements and is developing proposals to ensure the skills system supports employers to develop a pipeline of skilled workers to meet their needs, including in technology and cybersecurity. This will also complement existing skills efforts led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, who oversee the current CyberFirst programme and the work of the UK Cyber Security Council.