The New Statesman | UK politics and culture How can the UK take the lead in the skills revolution? | Sponsored
Jul 12, 2025
Sharon Hague, UK Lead at Pearson, champions the need for better training and education to fill skills gaps. David Bell, Vice Chair of Skills England, emphasizes aligning education with industry demands as a path to economic advancement. They dive into the financial impact of a skills mismatch and discuss the vital role of government in fostering a culture of continuous learning. The duo explores how the UK can leverage technology and innovative training approaches to lead in the evolving AI-driven economy.
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Cost of Skills Gap
- The UK's skills gap costs 96 billion pounds in lost earnings, about 4% of national output.
- Closing this gap could significantly boost economic productivity and reduce transitional unemployment.
Global Skills Disruption Challenge
- Skills disruption due to automation and rapid change affects all economies globally.
- Every nation needs a strong, persuasive skills strategy to respond effectively.
Advance Education Flexibility
- Increase curriculum flexibility to adapt quickly to technological and economic changes.
- Promote continuous lifelong learning and develop a culture embracing skill updates at all career stages.