tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/search/news-and-communications News and communications from The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern 2026-07-09T13:50:41+01:00 HM Government tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/publications/he-access-and-participation-task-and-finish-group-and-minister-for-skills-correspondence 2026-07-09T13:50:41+01:00 HE Access and Participation Task and Finish Group and Minister for Skills: correspondence Correspondence between the Higher Education Access and Participation Task and Finish Group Chair and the Minister for Skills. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/choose-carefully-new-data-shows-degree-choice-drives-earnings 2026-06-25T00:30:01+01:00 ‘Choose carefully’: new data shows degree choice drives earnings Graduates earn on average around £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduate counterparts, but returns vary by degree subject. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/publications/apprenticeship-funding-bands-reviews 2026-06-21T22:30:05+01:00 Apprenticeship funding bands reviews A letter from the Minister for Skills for the Department for Work and Pensions to Skills England on the apprenticeship funding bands reviews. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/thousands-of-young-people-to-be-offered-two-dose-menb-vaccine 2026-06-12T00:01:00+01:00 Thousands of young people to be offered 2-dose MenB vaccine Two-dose MenB vaccine to be offered to young people ahead of the autumn as part of a one-off vaccination programme in England. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/landmark-report-sets-out-action-to-address-key-skills-gaps 2026-06-01T09:31:49+01:00 Landmark report sets out action to address key skills gaps Skills England has published its first Annual Skills Report, providing the most comprehensive picture to date of current and future skills demand across England tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/regional-funding-to-train-next-generation-of-construction-workers 2026-05-20T00:01:02+01:00 Regional funding to train next generation of construction workers £96 million to be allocated to create tens of thousands of placements on building sites across the country to plug skills gaps and boost housebuilding tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/adults-locked-out-of-learning-to-access-education-with-new-reform 2026-05-15T16:08:07+01:00 Adults locked out of learning to access education with new reform Government announces first 130 universities and colleges approved to offer new bite-sized courses, with applications opening this September. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/next-generation-empowered-through-technical-excellence-colleges 2026-04-15T15:16:34+01:00 Next generation empowered through Technical Excellence Colleges 19 new Technical Excellence Colleges will equip young people with the high-level technical skills needed to access well-paid, high-skilled jobs. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/uk-and-eu-finalise-agreement-to-bring-uk-into-erasmus-in-2027 2026-04-15T14:30:48+01:00 UK and EU finalise agreement to bring UK into Erasmus+ in 2027 Thousands across the UK set to benefit from re-opening of the historic Erasmus+ programme tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/interest-rate-cap-introduced-to-protect-plan-2-borrowers 2026-04-07T10:18:29+01:00 Interest rate cap introduced to protect Plan 2 borrowers Interest on Plan 2 and 3 student loans will be capped at 6%, instead of RPI+3%, to provide borrowers with certainty in an uncertain world. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/major-upgrades-to-restore-pride-in-englands-run-down-colleges 2026-04-01T10:54:00+01:00 Major upgrades to restore pride in England’s run-down colleges £307 million to repair and maintain colleges in all regions of England to fix leaking roofs, broken windows and worn-out facilities, delivering national renewal. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/new-legislation-to-keep-brothers-and-sisters-connected-in-care 2026-03-26T10:55:00+00:00 New legislation to keep brothers and sisters connected in care Right to maintain contact with siblings to be strengthened in law for children in care via amendment to Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/ai-apprenticeship-to-close-digital-skills-gap-holding-back-millions-of-workers 2026-03-17T12:00:00+00:00 AI apprenticeship to close digital skills gap holding back millions of workers First apprentices starting on AI and automation practitioner apprenticeship. It's open to all employers and supporting drive to upskill millions by 2030. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/speeches/the-uk-is-putting-women-and-girls-at-the-heart-of-everything-that-we-do-from-development-to-diplomacy-uk-national-statement-at-the-un-commission-on 2026-03-11T21:19:56+00:00 The UK is putting women and girls at the heart of everything that we do, from development to diplomacy: UK National statement at the UN Commission on the Status of Women General Discussion Statement by The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State (Minister for Skills) and Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities) at the UN Commission on the Status of Women. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/speeches/we-are-appalled-by-the-continued-restrictions-imposed-on-the-women-and-girls-of-afghanistan-uk-statement-at-the-un-security-council 2026-03-09T20:34:09+00:00 We are appalled by the continued restrictions imposed on the women and girls of Afghanistan: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, Minister of State (Minister for Skills) and Minister of State (Minister for Women and Equalities) at the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/government-plans-to-train-next-generation-of-construction-workers 2026-02-10T00:01:02+00:00 Government plans to train next generation of construction workers 13,000 apprenticeship and T Level opportunities created by government’s plan to transform school buildings. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/intelligence-agencies-provide-briefings-on-foreign-interference 2026-02-09T16:56:53+00:00 Intelligence agencies provide briefings on foreign interference MI5 and cyber security services deliver rare briefings to Vice Chancellors and political parties to harden the UK’s resilience against foreign interference. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/decommissioning-underpins-ambitions-for-homegrown-clean-energy 2026-01-22T08:23:09+00:00 Decommissioning underpins ambitions for homegrown clean energy NDA group puts decommissioning at the forefront of the agenda at Nuclear Week in Parliament tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/cutting-edge-drone-degree-to-train-military-forces-of-the-future-unveiled 2026-01-21T06:30:06+00:00 Cutting-edge drone degree to train military forces of the future unveiled Young engineers to master battlefield-proven technology at Hereford university from September 2026. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/government-modernises-exam-records-with-new-app 2026-01-08T00:01:02+00:00 Government modernises exam records with new app Every year 11 student in England to be able to see their GCSE exam results on a new app from summer 2026.