2020 

Kickstart Scheme

In July 2020 the UK Government launched the Kickstart scheme. The Kickstart scheme is a £2bn (€2.15bn*) fund to pay for six-month work placements for 16 to 24-year-olds, helping those who are receiving benefits and at risk of long-term unemployment. Funding is available for each job and will cover 100% of the relevant National Minimum Wage. The jobs must be new jobs with a minimum of 25 hours a week.  The associated employer National Insurance contributions and employer minimum automatic enrolment contributions will also be included.

* Exchange rate used: €1 = £0.92, ECB, 11 September 2020.

‘Plan for Jobs’ launched

In July 2020 the Government announced that atotal of £1.6 billion (€1.7 billion*) will be invested in scaling up employment support schemes, training and apprenticeships to help people looking for a job. Young people, who are amongst the worst hit by the Covid-19 crisis, will benefit from this. This includes

• Businesses will be given £2,000 (€2,169*) for each new apprentice they hire under the age of 25. This is in addition to the existing £1,000 (€1,080*) payment the Government already provides for new 16-18-year-old apprentices and those aged under 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan.
• A £111 million (€120 million*) investment to triple the scale of traineeships in 2020-21 ensuring more young people have access to high quality training.
• £17 million (€18.3 million*) of funding to triple the number of sector-based work academy placements in 2020-21
• Nearly £900 million (€972 million*) to double the number of work coaches to 27,000;
• Over a quarter of a million more young people to benefit from an extra £32 million (€34.5 million*) investment in the National Careers Service.

* Exchange rate used: €1 = £0.92, ECB, 11 September 2020.

2019 

Opportunity Areas programme extended 

See the item in ‘National Reforms in School Education’.

Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution 

In June 2019, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) issued a White Paper, Regulation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, setting out plans to transform the UK’s regulatory system to support innovation while protecting citizens and the environment. Measures announced included:

• a new Regulatory Horizon Council to advise government on rules and regulations that may need to change to keep pace with technology
• a ’Digital Regulation Navigator’ to help businesses find their way through the regulatory landscape and bring their ideas to market.

Technology in education 

In April 2019, the Department for Education (DfE) issued a strategy document, Realising the potential of technology in education: A strategy for education providers and the technology industry.

The strategy is aimed at supporting and enabling the education sector to help develop and embed technology in a way that cuts workload, fosters efficiencies, removes barriers to education, and ultimately drives improvements in educational outcomes. In parallel, the Government will support the development of the EdTech business sector in the UK and improve its own digital services.

The strategy identifies five key areas of opportunity for technology:

1. Administration processes – reducing the burden of ‘non-teaching’ tasks.
2. Assessment processes – making assessment more effective and efficient.
3. Teaching practices – supporting access, inclusion, and improved educational outcomes.
4. Continuing professional development – supporting teachers, lecturers and education leaders so they can develop more flexibly.
5. Learning throughout life – supporting decisions about work or further study and helping those who are not in the formal education system to gain new skills.

2018 

Select committee inquiry into Fourth Industrial Revolution 

See the item in ‘National Reforms in School Education’. 

Institute of Coding

The Institute of Coding (IoC) was launched in June 2018. Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), through the Office for Students (OfS), the IoC is a consortium of universities and employers, across England and Wales, with the objective of training the next generation of digital specialists at degree level and above.

The IoC is centred around five core themes:

1. university learners: boosting graduate employability through a new industry standard targeted at degree level qualifications
2. the digital workforce: developing specialist skills training in areas of strategic importance
3. digitalising the professions
4. widening participation: improving equality and diversity in technology-related education and careers
5. knowledge sharing and sustainability.

Article last reviewed March 2021.