Rutland and Melton MP Alicia Kearns has welcomed the Government's plan to change the provision of skills in the UK.

As a result of the changing economy and the impact of the pandemic, the Government says it is developing a long-term plan to ensure that, as the nature of work changes, people have the skills to find and create new and better jobs.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his plan to ensure people can re-train and find new, well-paid jobs as part of the Government's plan to Build Back Better.

This includes the Lifetime Skills Guarantee which will provide adults in England without an A-Level or equivalent qualifications the opportunity to take up a free, fully funded college course from April. The offer will be paid for through the National Skills Fund – which fulfils one of the Government's manifesto pledges.

On top of this, higher education loans will be made more flexible – allowing adults and young people to choose the length and type of course that is right for them. This will allow them to take more high-quality vocational courses in further education colleges and universities, and to support people to retrain for the jobs of the future.

£1.5 billion will also be invested in upgrading and improving colleges across the country, with £200 million being spent this year.

Rutland and Melton MP, Alicia Kearns, said: "It is right that the Government is unlocking people's potential across the country as we Build Back Better from the COVID-19 pandemic, giving anyone without A-levels the chance to learn new skills and acquire qualifications for free.

"Yesterday's announcement shows this Government's commitment to helping people get the skills they need at every stage of their lives, and I know this will benefit a great number of Rutland and Melton residents."

Yesterday's announcement builds on the Government's Plan for Jobs which commits to supporting young people to find jobs through the £2 billion Kickstart scheme, providing cash incentives for businesses to support people into work, tripling the number of places available through Sector-Based Work Academies and giving young people who have just left school the skills they need to find work in high-value sectors, such as engineering, construction and social care.