Briefings and responses

Our response to the Milburn call for evidence sets out our vision for what can make the biggest difference to helping young people reach their potential.

The ambition for a joined-up, high-quality skills system supporting young people, including those who are not in education, employment or training, employers, and local economies is welcome. We value the Government’s commitment to engage on the reforms with local government and sector partners to ensure they are practical, inclusive, and responsive to local needs.

“It means mobilising Mayors and councils to join up local work, health and skills support in ways that meet the needs of their area.” Joint Ministerial Foreword to Get Britain Working White Paper

The LGA welcomes the Government’s plans set out in the Get Britain Working (GBW) White Paper to integrate the Jobcentre Plus (JCP) network with the national careers service (NCS).

The introduction of the Employment Rights Bill is a key area of interest for councils. With 1.4 million employees in the sector and more than half a million teachers, firefighters and other local authority related personnel, local government can be said to be the largest, most varied, workforce in the country.

The publication of the Get Britain Working White Paper is of significant relevance to local government. It signals a clear commitment for Government to work with all of local government to shape the employment and skills offer for their places.

The introduction of the Employment Rights Bill is a key area of interest for councils. With 1.4 million employees in the sector and more than half a million teachers, firefighters and other local authority related personnel, local government can be said to be the largest workforce in the country.

A Westminster Hall Debate on Apprenticeships and T levels

It is encouraging that the Chancellor has announced £1.3 billion of extra funding, through the local government finance settlement, for the next financial year. Together with council tax flexibilities and locally-retained business rates, this will provide a real-terms increase in total core spending power in 2025/26 of around 3.2 per cent. This will help meet some – but not all – of the significant pressures in adult and children’s social care and homelessness support.

Councils and combined authorities have an important and wide-reaching role in the skills system and their local economy.