CBI responds to A-Level results day

The CBI has responded to A-Levels results day in England.

Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said:

“Congratulations to those receiving their A-Level results, after many years of hard work.

“Regardless of the outcome, young people should remember that qualifications are just one of the factors employers look at when recruiting. Businesses value the resilience students have demonstrated throughout the pandemic enormously, alongside skills like creativity and teamwork.

“Firms are committed to helping young people get ready for the world of work - be it through Kickstart placements, apprenticeships, or work experience. Universities will similarly be working hard to support students, helping them find places and showing flexibility when making admissions decisions.”

On STEM subject uptake, Matthew said:

“It’s fantastic to see uptake of maths, computing, and sciences increase, with students performing well. As digitisation and automation change how we work, equipping young people with these skills will help them succeed, and ensure firms can reap the benefits of new technologies.”

On the number of entries for arts and creative subjects, Matthew said:

“Having a balanced curriculum that broadens young people’s horizons is valued by employers as a way of developing skills like creativity and strong communication. Businesses will be disappointed to see a continued decline in uptake of subjects like arts and design, in the context of the contribution that the creative industries make to the UK economy.”