Comment: 'Devo can enable colleges to respond to local economic needs'

Further Education colleges have long been at the heart of their local communities, working closely with employers, local authorities, and industry partners to develop the essential skills needed for regional growth and prosperity.

Devolution would build on this strong foundation by bringing decision making and investment even closer to the communities colleges serve.

With greater local control over skills funding, colleges would be better placed to align provision with emerging workforce needs, helping to address skills shortages and support local economic priorities.

The extensive partnerships that colleges have already developed with employers and stakeholders could be strengthened further through devolved arrangements, creating more responsive pathways into employment, apprenticeships, and higher-level learning.

Devolution would also provide colleges with greater opportunities to influence local skills strategies and help ensure that investment reflects the realities of regional labour markets.

This would enable colleges to respond more quickly to changing economic demands while continuing to equip students with the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to succeed.

For FE colleges, adult skills devolution is not about starting something new. It is about enhancing the work they already do so well, giving them a stronger voice, greater flexibility to provide the training solutions that employers need, and a more influential role in shaping the future skills agenda for the benefit of students, employers, and communities alike.