UK premier announces new training body to reduce reliance on overseas workers

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled on Monday a new body, Skills England, to reduce dependency on overseas workers by enhancing home-grown skills.

Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, Starmer outlined plans to align training provisions with the economic needs of the country.

Skills England, a key element in Labour’s manifesto, aims to ensure that training is not just available, but also relevant to the businesses and communities it serves.

The body will collaborate closely with the Migration Advisory Committee to reduce dependency on overseas workers by enhancing home-grown skills.

"The new body is a plan to make sure that we’re training young people, not just for any business, but for the businesses that exist in their communities, the skills that you and they need to take each other forward," Starmer said.

While acknowledging the essential role of migration in the UK’s economy, public services, and communities, Starmer emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for local workers.

"I do not criticize businesses who hire overseas workers and I certainly don’t diminish the contribution that migration makes to our economy, to our public services, and of course, to our communities – migration is part of our national story. It always has been, always will be," he said.

"It cannot be right that some people don’t get to feel the pride of making a contribution, that dignity of work, just because we can’t find a way of creating a coherent skills system, " the British premier added.