University isn't the only option for our young people | Suella Braverman MP

However, by underestimating further and technical education, we are exacerbating a widening skills gap that is holding us back at a critical juncture. To remain competitive internationally and improve our productivity, we must reverse this narrative.

Building upon existing reforms including the introduction of T levels – which I was honoured to recently commemorate at Fareham College – the government’s Further Education White Paper puts an end to the illusion that a degree is the only route to success.

The education that young people receive will be directly linked to the skills required for real jobs, while employers can satisfy any gaps in their workforce at the same time, to boost productivity and expedite our economic growth.

To support the delivery of these courses, the government will also invest £1.5 billion of capital funding to improve the condition of further education colleges, while ensuring that they are well managed and supported by the best quality teachers and lecturers. The wheels are already in motion to achieve this ambition, and I was delighted to unveil the new facilities at Fareham College’s Bishopsfield Road Campus and the College’s new Civil Engineering Training Centre in Lee-on-the-Solent earlier this year – proof, that these reforms will upgrade every community across the country.

A £65m Strategic Development Fund will enhance collaboration with employers by establishing new College Business Centres, while the government is seeking to demolish long-standing barriers to entry by exploring the potential for flexible funding.

Ultimately, we must embrace this opportunity with open arms and utilise this chance to build an agile and adaptable workforce that can blossom in a zeitgeist of technological change, while nurturing the dormant creativity of our school leavers.