The new skills academies will provide solutions to acute skills shortages in the UK and will provide for 20,000 learners in their first year alone. The new academies are:

• Sport and Active Leisure


• Creative and Cultural


• Hospitality

The new academies take the total of approved National Skills Academies to nine. Minister for Skills, David Lammy said:

"The National Skills Academy network will make a substantial contribution to the success of the UK economy. By making a long term investment in high quality training, tailored to specific needs, the employers involved in these partnerships will reap dividends in terms of enhanced productivity, creativity aand competitiveness."