Budget 2011: Education and Skills

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We examine some key highlights affecting education and skills policy, including reaction from ePolitix.com members.

• An additional £100m from the bank levy will be invested in science facilities in Cambridge, Norwich, Harwell and Daresbury.

• Double the number of university technical colleges to 24.

• Numbers of places on a new work experience scheme to increase to 100,000 over two years, rather than 20,000 as previously announced.

• Funds for an additional 40,000 apprenticeships and an additional 10,000 high level apprenticeships.

• Help for manufacturing to include new export credits, a technology and innovation centre and nine new university centres.

Member Response: Ruth Spellman OBE, chief executive, CMI

Employers keep telling us that although management and leadership skills are universal requirements for those entering almost any type of employment, the majority of school leavers have little idea about the skills needed to run a business or work for an employer.

The fact that work experience schemes are being extended to 100,000 young people and that 40,000 Apprenticeships will be delivered as a result of today's Budget is clearly a good thing, but education must be based on the needs of employers. True entrepreneurialism and genuine ‘readiness for work’ will only be created if schools and employers are able to work together to deliver qualifications that equip pupils with the tangible skills missing from today's workplaces.

Member Response: Toni Fazaeli, chief executive, Institute for Learning

Following today's Budget announcement, IfL has updated its arrangements so that any teacher or trainer whose annual earnings are at or below £7,475 is entitled to IfL's concessionary membership rate of £45 for 18 months, from 1 April 2011 to 30 September 2012. IfL is updating its communications for all members who have not yet renewed their IfL membership, as well as for new teachers or trainers joining IfL as their professional body.

All part-time teachers and trainers who have already renewed their IfL membership for 2011-12 at the standard rate will receive a message from IfL confirming that if their yearly earnings are below the new personal allowance figure of £7,475 announced today by the Chancellor, IfL will reimburse the £23 difference between the standard and concessionary fees for their 18 months' membership.

Member Response: Paul Warner, director of employment and skills, Association of Learning Providers

The government has definitely been on the right track in ensuring that apprentices are in a proper job with a decent wage. We need though to find places with employers for this summer's school leavers who want apprenticeships or at least get them on the ladder to full apprenticeships in new access programmes around the country.

Member Response: Christine Blower, general secretary, National Union of Teachers

If this were really a budget for growth, the chancellor would have announced a reversal of the government's public sector cuts. These include the abolition of the EMA, cuts to post-16 funding and job losses across the education sector. The government's cuts are damaging growth and strangling economic recovery.

Cutting taxes for big business, while axing public sector budgets, is a far cry from 'we are all in this together'.

Member Response: Chris Keates, general secretary, NASUWT

It is the same deregulation promoted by the Chancellor in this budget, which fostered the reckless and greedy behaviour of the banks that caused the economic crisis in the first place.

Ordinary families are buckling under the financial burden of a two-year pay freeze, removal of child tax credits, an increase in VAT, a rise in National Insurance, cuts to child benefit, inflation running at 5%, cuts to EMA and trebling tuition fees. Does anyone other than the Chancellor think a penny off fuel will make a difference?

Member Response: British Retail Consortium director general, Stephen Robertson

Retail employs a million under-25s providing a vital entry point to the world of work and developing careers. The Government is right to support apprenticeships. It must also recognise the investment retailers make in improving skills.

Member Response: Action for Children

Too many of our young people are faced with bleak employment prospects, left with little hope as they try to find work in this tough economic climate. The government's pledge on apprenticeships and work experience will help to transform some young lives, however, for it to really bring about positive change, they must target the most vulnerable and isolated youngsters who face the greatest struggle to get jobs and on the employment ladder.

Beyond simply opening doors to work, the government also needs to fund ongoing support for the most vulnerable young people, to help them remain in employment long-term. Only then will we be investing in creating brighter futures for all young people today and generations to come.