Rishi Sunak to invest £3billion in training thousands of British workers for better-paid jobs

RISHI Sunak will launch a £3billion skills revolution to train thousands of British workers for better-paid jobs.

The Chancellor will use his Budget to build a high-wage economy and “level up” across the UK.

He will take action to turbo-charge post-16 education to give everyone the chance find jobs and earn more.

It will include free, personal maths coaching for 500,000 adults who failed to make the grade at school.

Extra funds will also be pumped into modern apprenticeships, skills bootcamps and new T-level technical courses for teenagers.

Mr Sunak said on Saturday night: “Our future economic success depends not just on the education we give to our children but the life-long learning we offer to adults.

“This £3billion investment builds on our Plan for Jobs and will spread opportunity across the UK, giving people the skills they need to earn more and get on in life.”

In his first post-pandemic Budget, Mr Sunak faces the mammoth task of kick starting the recovery while paying off the £2.2trillion debt.

But he vowed to do what he can to protect hard-working families “feeling the pinch” from rising prices.

Writing in today’s Sun on Sunday he said: “I want you to know we will continue to do whatever it takes. We will continue to have your backs.”

In Wednesday’s speech, he is expected to give the lowest paid a wage boost by raising the national minimum wage towards £9.40.

He will also end the public-sector pay freeze for five million workers from April.

But his main focus will be to fill the skills gap which has led to shortages in key areas, such as HGV drivers.

It will include “Multiply” — a £560million scheme to improve adult maths skills.

Apprenticeship funding will increase by £170million to a record high of £2.7billion.