Give Greater Manchester more power to help young people, ex-levelling up chief says

The architect behind the government's levelling up plans has backed Greater Manchester's calls to be given more control over its post-school skills system.

Local leaders want more influence over the technical education and training opportunities available to people from the age of 16 onwards, saying they would work with employers to build a workforce that has the skills required. This includes investment in skills needed in the digital, technology and life science sectors as well as the green economy such as for retrofitting homes.

Speaking in Salford, Andy Haldane, who was the head of the Levelling Up taskforce, said skills will be key to 'unlocking growth' in the UK. He said Greater Manchester has the 'secret sauce' for levelling up and that devolving the skills system will be a 'key ingredient' to make a success of it.

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The former chief economist at the Bank of England, who is now the chief executive at the Royal Society for the Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA), made the comments on a visit to HOST, an innovation hub in Media City. It comes as mayor Andy Burnham prepares for further devolution talks with the government where he will demand more control over the skills system.

He has argued that by having more influence over the opportunities offered to young people, Greater Manchester can build a workforce suited to its needs. Mr Haldane, who was responsible for writing the government's Levelling Up White Paper, said he 'would like nothing better' than seeing more devolution.

He said: "There's no question in my mind that in terms of what is needed to make a success of levelling up, [devolution] is a massive part of