An expert adviser has been appointed to support the government's mission to unlock opportunities and drive economic growth through adult skills policy.
An expert adviser has been appointed to support the government's mission to unlock opportunities and drive economic growth through adult skills policy.
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has appointed Praful Nargund as a skills policy adviser. He will help the government maximise the impact of adult skills policy in England following its transfer to the Department for Work and Pensions.
The part-time unpaid appointment starts in January 2026 and will last for 6 months, with the option to extend.
Praful is the founder and director of the Good Growth Foundation, a think tank focused on inclusive economic policies. Previously, he sat on Labour's Council of Skills Advisors, which worked to better prepare individuals for the workforce.
Established processes for the declaration and management of interests have been followed.
Additional information
Terms of Reference: Praful Nargund
Role: Praful Nargund is appointed as the DWP Secretary of State's Skills Adviser.
Duration: The appointment will begin on 12 January 2025 and will conclude on 10 July 2025, with the possibility of extension.
Role specification: The postholder will work with civil servants and Special Advisers on the policy underpinning DWP's Skills agenda, with a particular focus on growth. This will include supporting the Secretary of State to make best use of the transfer of adult skills policy for England into DWP in relation to unlocking opportunities that support the Government's goal to increase opportunity and drive economic growth. Working with academics, economists and other expert stakeholders on how to maximise growth, economic investment and returns. They will also consider how to ensure the skills agenda supports our labour market objectives of creating opportunities for participation, progression, and productivity. The postholder will also work with Ministers, Special Advisers and officials to strengthen stakeholder relationships and with other government departments with an interest in adult skills.
Resources: The postholder is unpaid and will work in the department a minimum of 2 days a week. They will work closely with civil servants across the relevant parts of the department.
Governance and ways of working: The postholder will work closely with officials on a confidential basis, having access to relevant official and Ministerial papers. The postholder will update the Secretary of State as required.
Conflicts of interest: A full declaration of interest process has been conducted in the usual way for direct ministerial appointments. appointments and mitigations have been agreed to minimise any potential, actual or perceived conflicts. The postholder will comply with the measures and mitigations set out by DWP's Permanent Secretary, with support from the Propriety and Ethics Team if required.
Job Description
The postholder will seek to:
- Ensure DWP Secretary of State has access to high quality advice on growth, which to inform and embed the new policy area of adult skills and to use this to inform and complement the wider context of DWP's work on the labour market.
- Enhance DWP's skills engagement with academics, economists and other expert stakeholders.
- Drive and support innovative thinking in terms of how adult skills can help the government to increase opportunity and drive economic growth.
