The missing middle

Session overview

Higher technical pathways are increasingly recognised as important both for young people progressing from school or college and for adults already in work who need to upskill, retrain or move into higher-skilled roles. However, participation remains relatively low, and demand continues to vary across sectors and regions. This session will examine why this “missing middle” persists as a structural feature of the system and consider how policymakers and wider stakeholders can respond. 

Government policy is placing renewed emphasis on expanding higher-level skills – supporting transitions into skilled employment while enabling more flexible opportunities for individuals to build and update skills throughout their working lives.

The research explores how Level 4 and 5 qualifications can help bridge this gap by providing clear, high-quality technical routes, supporting progression within and between education and employment, and contributing to productivity and growth in priority sectors. It will also consider how these pathways can be positioned so that reaching Level 4 or 5 is seen as a meaningful point of completion, not simply a step towards Level 6. 

The webinar will share key findings from the study and bring together perspectives from policy experts, employers, regional partners and providers, and on how participation in higher technical qualifications can be strengthened, and how these pathways can better support progression at different career stages.