SIP calls for clarity and consistency on the skills agenda post Brexit

The Science Industry Partnership, the leading employer body for skills in the science industries, has called for Government to reassure employers that skills policy will not be subject to further change or instability in the light of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. SIP employers want to ensure that existing investment in skills is not diluted and future opportunities to collaborate across the EU are seized. In particular they want a clear direction on the implementation of the Post 16 Reforms and the Apprenticeship Levy.

The organisationspeaking on behalf of its members, has stated that employers will now be seeking reassurance that policy decisions and skills reforms will not stall and momentum will be maintained over the coming months.

Areas under the spotlight for the Science Industries include:

  • The Introduction of the Apprenticeship Reform Agenda and implementation of the Levy
  • What the decision means for EU nationals working in the UK, and any transitional arrangements
  • The ability to recruit highly skilled individuals
  • The Sector’s trading relationship with EU countries and access the single market
  • Potential regulatory changes (e.g. clinical trials)
  • The impact of Brexit on UK Science and access to EU research schemes

Of course the exit from the EU will not happen for at least 2 years and maybe even longer. In the meantime, the UK remains a member of the EU and EU obligations and benefits remain in place. In the short term therefore, it is “business as usual” in the UK; however SIP members recognise the need to be proactive and to work with the Government to ensure the very best environment for science based companies – including fit for purpose skills and education policies.

The UK has strong trading position and a world leading science base. But the most important thing is access to talent. This position is also supported by its recent research which forecasts the sector’s demand for skilled people out to 2025 – a projection of between 180,000 - 260,000 new scientific staff, many in new technology-based occupations.

SIP Chairman Malcolm Skingle said: “Given the constant reforms of recent times, we now need to see some longer term stability in skills funding and qualification types and the development and maintenance of national standards.

“A sense of stability will allow more collaboration, and this will also be a catalyst for providers to work together to deliver quality across specialisms and the training for the newly developing occupations we are seeing in this sector – from Bioinformaticians to Health Economists. Employers need to time and space to plan for and build a workforce for the future, without a constant stop-start approach to skills policy.”

The SIP will work together with Government going forward to ensure the voice of science employers is heard in Brexit negotiations and exit planning.