Fri, 19 September, 2025
The Department for Education (DfE) is developing a Post-16 Education and Skills Strategy, aimed at individuals who have finished their compulsory schooling at the age of 16, to address skills needs across 10 key sectors. These key sectors are:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Clean Energy Industries
- Creative Industries
- Defence
- Digital and Technologies
- Financial Services
- Life Sciences
- Professional and Business Services
- Construction
- Health and Adult Social Care
A report associated with this strategy forecasts that employment in these sectors (excluding Health and Adult Social Care) will grow by 1.7 million jobs over the next five years, with priority occupations growing by 0.9 million. This growth will highlight a significant skills gap that could ultimately impact the economy, businesses and individuals.
Key findings:
A substantial number of new roles will require qualifications at Level 4 and above, but also a need for qualifications at Levels 2 and 3.
Historic training routes for priority occupations are often at higher levels, with a focus on areas such as health, STEM, engineering, and construction.
The report acknowledges that further work is needed to address highly specialised, emerging, and digital/AI skills that will be required in the future.
How TWI can help to close the skills gap:
The report highlights the critical need for skills in engineering and for highly specialised and emerging roles, which are areas of expertise for TWI. TWI can help close the skills gap in several ways:
- Engineering and vocational training: The report identifies engineering as a key training route for priority occupations. As a leader in materials joining and engineering, TWI can provide vocational qualifications and specialised training programmes at various levels to meet the demand for skilled workers in these fields
- Training and professional career support: The Welding Institute, TWI’s professional institution, can offer training to fulfil the required skill needs, followed by professional career support via our Professional Membership options to nurture and develop skills into the future
- Industry collaboration: By working with the DfE and other government bodies, TWI can leverage its industry knowledge and connections to highlight and support the development of future skills training programmes and ensure that qualifications are aligned with the real-world needs of employers
Summary of TWI support:
The report highlights that there is a concern for regional disparities. TWI’s support offerings are applicable to any Professional or Industrial Member in the UK by delivering virtual training programmes and ongoing professional support.
The report also highlights that there is a concern for skill mismatches. TWI’s connection with Industry Members can aid in advising on best adjustments to ensure skills are aligned with employers’ requirements.
2 out of the 3 sectors of most concern are green jobs and construction. TWI is continuously investing in green research that helps to reduce the environmental impact of our Industrial Members’ initiatives, including best safety and sustainability practices. TWI has a long history of working with the construction sector, specifically industrial and infrastructure, and has a deep understanding of the skills requirements of these sectors, as well as operational requirements ranging from materials to logistics.
TWI prides itself on its ability to offer industry-leading support and knowledge holistically, from fulfilling skill requirements for individuals wishing to enter the industry, right up to developing world-leading research for continued input of excellence within multiple sectors such as clean energy, defence and construction. TWI can leverage its broad landscape of involvement in these sectors to not only help close the skills gap but ensure longevity into the future. Members receive ongoing support that keeps them competitive in the international skills market and ensures sustained learning by attending and participating in a range of events and online knowledge bases.
For more information on how TWI and The Welding Institute can help upskill and develop the next generation of industry experts, please email contactus@twi.co.uk.