MTC Welcomes Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper as Boost for UK Manufacturing
Aaron Blutstein 27 October 2025 
The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) has shared its response to the UK Government’s Post-16 Education and Skills White Paper, highlighting the potential benefits of the proposals for the country’s manufacturing sector.
MTC said the plans could strengthen the industry’s long-term competitiveness by supporting high-quality reskilling and upskilling programmes and by establishing a national workforce strategy to ensure employers and workers can access “the right skills, at the right time.”
According to the organisation, investment in skills and training remains essential to maintaining the global competitiveness of UK manufacturing and driving sustained economic growth. As technologies continue to evolve, MTC said, the UK workforce must be equipped to adopt and apply them effectively.
The White Paper’s introduction of short, modular ‘Apprenticeship Units’, available through the reformed Growth and Skills Levy, was described by MTC as “a positive step” that could help manufacturers adapt to advanced technologies and improve productivity and profitability.
MTC also welcomed the creation of three post-16 education pathways, saying they would offer “greater clarity, choice and opportunities for learners” while providing alternative routes into engineering and manufacturing. The organisation said this approach would help meet the changing needs of UK employers and encourage more people to pursue careers in the sector.
The centre further noted that the proposed V-Levels represent an important step in simplifying vocational qualifications, reducing confusion in the system and helping industry engage more effectively with education providers.
David Grailey, Managing Director, MTC Training, commented: “High quality reskilling and upskilling programmes – anchored in a national workforce strategy which uses Workforce Foresighting data and incentives – are needed to ensure employers and workers can invest in the right skills, at the right time.
“The inclusion of short, modular ‘Apprenticeship Units’, accessible via the Levy, is a positive step that will help UK manufacturing adopt advanced technologies to drive competitiveness, productivity, and profitability.
“We welcome the development of the three pathways for post-16 education as a step towards greater clarity, choice and opportunities for learners. These pathways will offer alternative routes of entry into engineering and manufacturing – helping to meet the evolving needs of UK employers and encourage more people into the industry.
“The creation of V-Levels represents a significant milestone in streamlining the qualification landscape, reducing confusion, and increasing engagement with the education and skills system. As a critical sector for future growth and innovation, these proposals are good news for advanced manufacturing.”
