New podcast with Skills Minister Jacqui Smith

Plans to introduce technical subjects into the curriculum for pupils aged 14, alongside reforms to the apprenticeship system, could bring significant changes to vocational education. But what might these developments mean for the future of skills policy? 

UK Skills Minister Jacqui Smith discussed these questions with Steph McGovern on Enginuity’s Steph on Skills Podcast, recorded during WorldSkills 2026 in Shanghai. They also explored the UK’s representation at the competition and how raising awareness of WorldSkills could help develop talent capable of competing on the global stage.

Paving the way to qualifications in demand 

The ideal pathway for pupils to a vocational career will be paved by mayors and strategic authorities, as well as local employers. The government announced that Vocational GCSEs will sit alongside subjects like English and Maths, allowing pupils to balance out their traditional academic study with the opportunity to gain skills in subjects like coding or construction. 

During their lively discussion, host Steph McGovern raised concerns that specialist vocational study often means uprooting 14-year-olds from their routines and social lives to get training elsewhere. The minister argues that putting skills training in schools across the UK will prevent exactly that, offering more career options for pupils without making them choose between academic and vocational learning. 

Mayors and strategic authorities would play their part by helping to shape the skills training on offer, based on what employers in the local and wider area are hiring for. Where there is a need for a particular skill or broader talent within local industry, they would work to ensure schools can offer it to pupils. 

Employers showing the value of vocational skills 

Where local authorities can offer guidance on the skills that are in demand, the region’s employers can really help students see the way forward. During the discussion, Steph McGovern mentions that “that connection with employers” could be the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle. 

 The government announced a National Mission on Work Experience to boost opportunities for learners outside the classroom, calling on employers to offer an additional 200,000 work experience placements to 14-16 year olds. Employers are being invited to contact their nearest Careers Hubs with details of their offer to learners. 

Giving young people the chance to take in a meaningful work experience placement will help them understand the needs of local employers, and where the vocational route can lead – perhaps all the way to the WorldSkills stage. And for employers it represents an opportunity to recruit in potential growth areas.  

If you haven’t tuned in before, the latest episode of Steph on Skills: Powered by Enginuity is a great place to start. Each edition  features talks with industry leaders, policy experts, and success stories from across the engineering and manufacturing sector.

Watch Steph on Skills: Powered by Enginuity - WorldSkills Shanghai with UK Minister, Jacqui Smith