Phil Hope, who was given the skills brief after the general election, said in an interview he wanted to see "a new settlement" in which the government, employers and learners would increasingly be expected to contribute to tuition and training costs.

"We do want to see a shift," he said. "Getting the flexibility to respond to employer needs and promoting a culture of skills investment for companies and individuals. We must see this as a three-way partnership."

The government has spent more than two years planning and piloting public-sector training schemes that give employers more control in return for sharing costs. Now Mr Hope has the task of making the ambitious national skills strategy deliver in Labour's third term.