Technical education and regional approach at heart of new Industrial Strategy

The strategy includes a pledge of £170m in what's claimed to be new money to create new institutes of technology which will focus on teaching skills that are appropriate for the industries in their location. This regionality is an important part of the new strategy, to ensure that a 'one size fits all' approach is not adopted, avoiding the risk of creating local skills gaps.

The new institutes are an attempt to "help level the playing field by providing a credible alternative to the academic route," according to the Department of business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS). In its statement ahead of publication of the green paper, BEIS says that the strategy will address the "historic undervaluation" of technical education in the UK, particularly aimed at young people who choose not to go to university. "Our action will help ensure young people develop the skills they need to do the high-paid, high-skilled jobs of the future. That means boosting technical education and ensuring we extend the same opportunity and respect we give university graduates to those people who pursue technical routes,” said the Prime Minister.