They are already big in training

In 2019, there were 2.6m people enrolled in non-qualification “training bundles” – mainly to meet regulatory requirements in safety and skills maintenance.

In a report for the estimable National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Bryan Palmer suggests that while only are few are “recognised as a VET skill set, it would appear that industry actors and/or individual students already see many of these bundles as a ‘credential’ of value, one for which they are willing to pay,” – 93 per cent are fee for service.

And all is largely well, with the market “operating effectively” and meeting regulatory and safety requirements.

Mr Palmer suggests government could “stimulate training” where there will be future needs and regulators could review risk-based assessments, but, “there appears therefore to be no compelling need for government to further intervene in the management of this market than currently occurs.”