The Queens' Speech today (11th May) revealed new legislation relating to the Skills & Post-16 Education Bill, which aims to make colleges align the courses they offer to local employers’ needs.

Also revealed was the introduction of a ‘lifelong loan entitlement’ which will enable people to access four years’ worth of student loan funding across further and higher education providers to study throughout their lifetime.

The idea is to create a system that allows for more part-time studying while people are working.

Stephen Davis, Group Principal of the United Colleges Group, said:

“The United Colleges Group warmly welcomes much of the content of the Queen’s Speech, in particular we appreciate the focus on the importance of skills-based learning as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and prepares to return to normality.

“We are especially pleased to see the potential that skills, and those who learn and teach them, have in promoting quality of life and the welfare of the economy being recognised in this way.

“It is our belief, as it will surely be of many in the further education sector, that the reforms outlined today have the potential to promote innovation, change, and positive and beneficial reform across the education landscape.

“Colleges such as City of Westminster College and College of North West London, as well as others in communities across the country, will be vital in promoting the skills-led recovery from the pandemic that we desperately need, and to see that the government shares this view is encouraging to us and to our colleagues.

“We look forward intently to seeing this new legislation brought forward and to continuing to work with all our stakeholder partners to drive forward progress in the spirit of partnership and in a common pursuit of excellence.”