NCUB urges expansion of advanced skills and apprenticeships to meet 2030 workforce needs | Editorial

Demand for skills across the Industrial Strategy sectors will grow by 15% in the coming five years, an assessment of skills needs by Skills England has predicted.

To meet this demand, immediate action must be taken to ensure the workforce is equipped with the relevant skills to succeed and supply priority sectors.  NCUB’s Director of Policy, Rosalind Gill, said:  “The growing mismatch between the skills employers need and the skills available in the workforce is already holding back business performance and innovation — and risks derailing the UK’s growth ambitions. “Universities are ready to bridge this gap. Two-thirds of future jobs will require advanced skills, and with the right investment and policy backing, universities can rapidly scale up agile, mid-level qualifications tailored to adult learners. The Lifelong Learning Entitlement offers a powerful tool to make this possible — expanding access, boosting productivity, and strengthening our global competitiveness. But this must be underpinned by a sustainable funding model for universities and a culture of effective, long-term partnerships with employers.

---

Read related articles

---

“Apprenticeships must also be part of the solution. They offer a proven route into priority sectors, combining academic excellence with hands-on experience through university–business partnerships. Funding for Level 7 apprenticeships in critical health professions – the details of which were published today by the NHS – is a vital example of decisive action taken to open doors to in-demand roles and support continual professional development in critical sectors.  “Yet access to apprenticeship opportunities for adult learners is shrinking. If we are to meet 2030 skills demands, we must extend this commitment to other sectors, enabling more people to access these transformative pathways and helping the UK meet future skills needs.” NCUB further welcomes the data-driven, employer led approach trialled by Skills England to assess the skills landscape and future requirements across growth-driving sectors.  Key findings: 

• Employment demand in priority occupations is expected to increase by 0.9 million by 2030, to 6.7 million. 

• Skills England’s Assessment shows two thirds (66%) of future roles will require workers with a qualification at level 4 or above – qualifications universities are primed to deliver.  

The assessment found 57% of recent Apprenticeship starts were in subjects aligned to a priority occupation – with 80% of those who go on to employment estimated to be in priority occupation sectors.

---

About the NCUB

The National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) represents a collective voice of leaders across higher education and business and aims to tackle issues of shared interest. The NCUB is an independent and not-for-profit membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports university-business collaboration across the UK. The organisation was originally established in 1986, and NCUB was formed in 2013.

​Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn To keep abreast of our campaigns and news, follow us at twitter.com/NCUBtweets and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/the-national-centre-for-universities-and-business

---

---

---

Find out more about the Think Global People and Think Women community and events.

---

Subscribe to Relocate Extra, our monthly newsletter, to get all the latest international assignments and global mobility news.Relocate’s new Global Mobility Toolkit provides free information, practical advice and support for HR, global mobility managers and global teams operating overseas.

©2025 Re:locate magazine, published by Profile Locations, Spray Hill, Hastings Road, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JB. All rights reserved. This publication (or any part thereof) may not be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of Profile Locations. Profile Locations accepts no liability for the accuracy of the contents or any opinions expressed herein.