DWP & DfE introduces new skills initiatives for 2022

Employers are urged to ‘join the skills revolution’ by getting behind some of the government’s latest initiatives in early 2022 – Skills for Life and Way to Work. The campaigns coincide with a clear appetite for skills development: research shows 70% of the nation’s employees want to upskill this year.

The pandemic’s impact on the labour market has been felt across many sectors. The disruption of furlough, redundancies and companies ceasing to trade has resulted in a portion of the UK workforce becoming actively open to upskilling and retraining. In 2022 the government looks focussed on supporting this desire with another offering of new skills initiatives.

Here’s a breakdown of the campaigns that are opening up new opportunities in 2022.

The 'Way to Work' scheme: moving 500,000 into jobs

The Department for Work and Pensions aims to ‘turbo-charge’ our national recovery from the pandemic, by getting half a million people into jobs by the end of June through its Way to Work campaign.

The plan is to fill a record number of vacancies at pace, targeting job-ready people on Universal Credit and getting them into work faster. And there are gaps to fill – a record 1.2 million vacancies are available (that’s 59% higher than pre-pandemic levels).

The campaign launched this January. You can find out more information on the Way to Work website.

Skills for Life campaign: a new strategy for lifelong learning

2022 has also already seen the launch of Skills for Life, an initiative that brings together government-backed skills and training opportunities. It highlights the support and funding that’s available for people to develop the skills for jobs they want, at any point in their life.

From apprenticeships to skills bootcamps and traineeships, the campaign promotes a variety of free and flexible offers that are readily available for people to get ahead in work.

Hundreds of courses and qualifications are showcased in the new campaign toolkit, where people can find the right training, advice, and crucially, the routes to develop the skills they need. You can find further support for Skills for Life here.

Unlocking workforce potential with apprenticeships

Alongside government initiatives, employers can use apprenticeships as a vital tool for opening up opportunities for all, by developing life-changing skills.

• Employers can maximise the levy through apprenticeships that provide progressive career pathways for all their people.
• Role-relevant programmes are readily available across diverse sectors and roles, developing the skills people need to thrive and for businesses to grow.

Every part of what we do is driven by the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to learn. Designed to inspire, challenge and upskill the people that are the driving force behind businesses, our programmes unlock potential and empower the workforce.