tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/search/news-and-communications News and communications from Minister of State (Minister for Skills) 2026-05-20T00:01:02+01:00 HM Government 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/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/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. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/major-expansion-of-colleges-to-train-next-generation-of-workers 2025-12-15T09:57:10+00:00 Major expansion of colleges to train next generation of workers Local colleges set to receive £570 million to expand training facilities and places to train the next generation of skilled workers tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/40000-people-to-get-skills-in-new-technical-excellence-colleges 2025-08-12T00:01:04+01:00 40,000 people to get skills in new Technical Excellence Colleges Tens of thousands of future construction workers to be trained up in high-demand construction skills by 2029, delivering growth and helping build new homes. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/free-speech-rules-to-protect-academic-freedom-come-into-force 2025-08-01T00:00:00+01:00 Free speech rules to protect academic freedom come into force New legal duties on universities and colleges come into force, as government delivers Plan for Change to restore integrity of higher education. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/speeches/minister-smith-keynote-speech-at-skope-skills-summit-oxford 2025-07-05T00:01:02+01:00 Minister Smith Keynote Speech at SKOPE Skills Summit, Oxford Speech delivered by Skills Minister Jacqui Smith at the University of Oxford on higher education reform, access and participation and working with the FE sector tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/publications/apprenticeship-standards-achievement-rates-update 2025-03-27T00:00:00+00:00 Apprenticeship standards achievement rates update A letter from the Minister for Skills on current apprenticeship standards achievement rates. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/more-red-tape-slashed-to-reduce-apprenticeship-bureaucracy 2025-02-13T00:00:00+00:00 More red tape slashed to reduce apprenticeship bureaucracy Reforms to apprenticeship training provider payment system and End Point Assessments will cut bureaucracy and enable focus on high quality training. tag:www.gov.uk,2005:/government/news/support-for-workers-to-benefit-from-thousands-of-clean-power-jobs 2025-01-22T00:00:00+00:00 Support for workers to benefit from thousands of clean power jobs Regional skills investments to help workers access thousands of jobs and 'skills passport' goes live.