Supply of higher level skills

We want all students to gain the skills they need to succeed in future employment or further study.

We also want to make sure that the pipeline of graduate talent meets the needs of employers today and tomorrow.

Our work 

We support universities and colleges to provide opportunities that develop the types of skills that will enable graduates to gain meaningful employment throughout their working lives.

Our initiatives encourage providers to focus on skills development in line with government priorities and broader industrial needs.

Our work in this area includes:

• funding new postgraduate conversion courses in data science and artificial intelligence
• funding the development of new higher education Levels 4-6 short courses
• funding 16 projects to improve outcomes for graduates seeking employment in their home region
• encouraging the development and uptake of degree apprenticeships
• providing ongoing support for the Institute of Coding
• providing funding to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects.

This work encourages providers to prioritise employer engagement in curriculum development and the provision of work experience opportunities for all students.

Where employers want to develop new kinds of skills training, such as degree apprenticeships, we have worked with providers to make that possible.

How we use evidence to inform policy

We are funding projects that contribute to improving the evidence base around graduate outcomes and in local and national labour markets, where sector-wide improvements can fuel economic prosperity and social mobility.

We identify innovative and effective practice examples to share with the sector in order to make system-wide improvements.