‘For growth and opportunity, devolution must support both place and scale’, says Paul Cox, Energy & Utility Skills Group Chief Executive
“We welcome the Government’s commitment to strengthening local decision-making and recognising the important role that places, regions and nations play in driving economic growth and workforce development.
For the energy, water and wider infrastructure sectors, place matters. Local labour markets, local employers and local priorities must all have a stronger voice in shaping skills investment and provision. Our members across the UK play vital roles in their communities helping to deliver jobs, investment and new infrastructure in place, which collectively contribute to national growth.
This is why, to deliver growth and opportunity, devolution must support both place and scale. Policy will necessarily differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but the principle should remain consistent: decisions should be taken at the level that best serves people, employers and the economy.
Many of the employers we represent operate across local, regional and national boundaries. They deliver essential services through complex supply chains, invest across multiple locations and require skills systems that are consistent and capable of responding to workforce challenges at scale.
The question is not whether decisions should sit locally or nationally. The challenge is designing a system that captures the strengths of both. Balance must recognise the contribution of micro businesses and SMEs rooted in local economies, alongside larger employers whose investment, infrastructure, supply chains and workforce requirements operate across regions and nations. A successful skills system must work for both.
Through the Energy and Utilities Skills Strategy 2025–2030, our members have consistently argued that skills policy should enable local areas to respond to local needs while retaining the national coordination necessary to address strategic workforce challenges, support employer investment and create consistent routes into competence and skilled occupations.
Skills policy shapes people’s lives, careers and opportunities for decades. A binary local-or-national model risks creating unintended consequences that future generations may spend years trying to address. These challenges are not insurmountable. We are working with members and industry partners to ensure that devolution connects local priorities with national workforce and economic need.
Our members have been clear that the future system should recognise both the importance of place and the importance of scale. That means creating space for local leaders to respond to local needs while retaining the national coordination needed to support sectors, employers and workforce requirements that cross boundaries.
If we get the balance right, we have an opportunity to build an ambitious and stable skills system that supports growth, strengthens productivity, improves opportunities for people across the UK and stands the test of time.”
As Government develops the detail behind today’s announcement, we invite members to get in touch with us with examples of where devolved skills decision-making has supported workforce development and growth or where national consistency remains important for employers operating across regions and nations. Share your thoughts at collaborate@euskills.co.uk.
