Business groups welcome Industrial Strategy but urge broader skills commitment
Industry groups and professional bodies broadly welcomed the UK’s new industrial strategy, but warn its success depends on sustained workforce investment. While targeted skills funding is seen as a positive first step, leaders stress the need for broader inclusion and employer-focused delivery across all sectors.
The UK government’s long-awaited Industrial Strategy, unveiled on 21 June, has been broadly welcomed by industry leaders. But key voices across professional services, engineering, and manufacturing are warning that success will hinge on a more inclusive and sustained approach to workforce development.
Long-term intent applauded, but gaps remain
In a joint statement issued via GOV.UK, major business organisations including the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Make UK praised the strategy’s long-term vision, describing it as ‘modern’ and ‘forward-looking.’
However, concerns persist around delivery. Speaking at the BCC conference this week, Director General Shevaun Haviland highlighted the enduring skills gap facing SMEs: ‘Two-thirds of SMEs still cite the skills gap as a serious constraint on growth.’
Professional and sectoral bodies weigh in
PwC partners Rachel Taylor and Matt Alabaster warned that government must ensure real engagement with business, stating: ‘Industrial strategy without business is just a wish list. We need bespoke incentives to upskill the existing workforce and mobilise private capital.’
EngineeringUK welcomed the focus on workforce and diversity, but called for a more integrated, cross-sector skills plan. Beatrice Barleon, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, said: ‘We call for a joined-up engineering and technology workforce strategy.’
The British Plastics Federation also backed the strategy, with Director General Philip Law emphasising the sector’s strategic role: ‘We’re encouraged by the government’s recognition of foundational industries. Plastics play a vital role in national resilience, and we welcome the long-term vision to support sectors that underpin UK security and industrial capability.’
L&D and skills strategy: a foundational shift?
The government’s £275 million technical training package was pitched as a serious repositioning of skills as a form of national infrastructure, especially in AI, digital manufacturing and engineering. This framing was explored in an earlier report by Learning News examining the strategic implications of the new Industrial Strategy for learning and development professionals and vendors, which argued the government is shifting from seeing skills as an education issue to treating workforce capability as a lever of national competitiveness. It highlighted opportunities for workplace learning teams and vendors to align with national priorities, engage with public-private initiatives and demonstrate their strategic value in a more policy-led environment.
Outlook
While sector-specific endorsements, from BAE Systems to Microsoft UK, suggest strong support for the vision, professional bodies are saying that long-term success depends on breadth, continuity and ensuring employers in every sector, not just high-growth or high-tech industries, can access the support they need to upskill their people.
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