Skills England Asks You to Shape the Future of Occupational Standards

By Tessa Griffiths and Sarah Maclean, Joint Chief Executives, Skills England

It is vital that the skills system is in the best place possible to support growth and transform the lives and careers of people across the nation for years to come.

Occupational standards are at the heart of our technical education system, setting out the skills required to be competent in an occupation and helping to make sure training meets employers’ needs.

Our Skills for Work programme, led by Skills England’s board chair, Phil Smith, is considering how occupational standards and the training they underpin can better support growth, employers, places and young people.

This isn’t about individual standards – it’s about making sure the system is fit for the future. So, we are asking employers, training providers, sector bodies, unions, learners and regional leaders to share their views, based on their experience and expertise.

Purpose and scope

We are asking stakeholders to think about the following:

• How well do occupational standards describe what’s needed for skilled work?
• How can they better support young people into jobs?
• Do current occupational standards reflect what employers need?  
• Where should we simplify without compromising quality?
• How do we reflect what’s needed locally and regionally?
• How do we keep pace with future labour market trends, including artificial intelligence?

Why we are doing this

Defined by employers and other key stakeholders, occupational standards have played an important role in improving quality and matching training to employers’ needs. However, advances in technology and artificial intelligence, changing workforce demographics, evolving employer needs, and regional economic priorities are creating new demands on the skills system.

As the economy continues to evolve, it is important – and right – to check what’s working and what can be improved.

How to support

We will only succeed if our recommendations are informed by evidence, practical experience and a broad range of perspectives from across the skills system. We are asking stakeholders to support by:

• responding to the request for stakeholder feedback by 16^th October
• taking part in further events planned by Skills England
• encouraging conversations about this work at meetings or events they have planned – and sharing feedback with us by emailing skillsforwork.skillsengland@dwp.gov.uk
• inviting us, via the same email, to attend their events so that we can talk to stakeholders directly

This is your opportunity to make a positive difference, helping us build a system that works better than ever for employers, learners, and places.

The Contract Flooring Association (CFA) will be submitting a response on behalf of the sector. It would welcome a summary of your main points, sent to shaun@cfa.org.uk by 12th October 2026, so its submission reflects the delivery perspective alongside employers’ views.

https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/