Labour plans to overhaul funding of apprenticeships

Labour has restated its pledge to reform the existing apprenticeship levy, promising firms more flexibility about how they spend government money.

- WILL DURRANT

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said that a new growth and skills levy would give businesses "greater flexibility to invest in training courses that meet their skills needs, turbocharging investment in skills for the future”. She said that businesses are “crying out for help to tackle skills shortages”.

The announcement comes days after Labour was seen courting bosses, asking them to declare their support for the reformed levy, according to Sky News.

On Tuesday, a public letter in support of the party which 120 company chiefs signed caused a row over Labour’s claim to be the “party of business”, after some signatories were allegedly associated with dormant firms.

Ms Phillipson said: “Businesses are crying out for help to tackle skills shortages, so Labour will give them the flexibility needed to create skills training opportunities and drive economic growth through a growth and skills levy.