Jacqui Smith Backs English UK as ELT Sector Urges Continued Policy Action
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The UK government has once again highlighted the importance of the UK ELT sector, with skills minister Jacqui Smith calling English language teaching a “very important strand” of the country’s international education strategy. The comments came during a parliamentary reception hosted by English UK in Westminster.
At the same event, English UK warned that recent progress in education policy reforms must not “stall” if the UK wants to maintain its position as a leading destination for international students and language learners.
English UK Calls for Faster Policy Action
English UK recently published an updated version of its 2026 position paper, outlining several reforms it wants the government to prioritise. The organisation stated that around half of its earlier policy requests had seen partial progress within months, but further action is still needed quickly.
One of the main demands focuses on expanding the youth mobility scheme. English UK has called for a Youth Experience Scheme agreed between the UK and the European Union to be implemented with the highest possible participant cap.
The association also wants the government to introduce similar mobility agreements with more non-EU countries to support educational and cultural exchange opportunities. Alongside this, English UK is pushing for more ID card-based travel arrangements for school groups travelling from Europe. Spain and Italy have been identified as priority countries for these agreements.
UK ELT Sector Seen as Key Economic Contributor
During the event, Jacqui Smith emphasised the wider economic and social impact of English language teaching across the UK.
“Working together, I think we can ensure that the UK leads the world in English language training and reaps the economic, social and cultural rewards this delivers to communities across the length and breadth of our nation. English UK plays a pivotal role in promoting the sector, supporting providers and strengthening our international presence – and that’s why I’m keen to reinforce the government’s strong support and to discuss shared priorities, including boosting exports and maintaining competitive, accessible routes for learners."
-Jacques Smith, UK minister for skills
According to research cited at the reception, English language students spend nearly twice as much money in the UK as average visitors. This makes the UK ELT sector an important contributor to local communities, businesses, and the broader economy.
The UK’s broader international education strategy aims to grow education exports to £40 billion per year by 2030. The English UK believes the ELT sector will play a major role in helping the country achieve this target.
What This Means for International Students
The latest developments suggest that the UK government is continuing to view international education as an important growth area.
If the proposed reforms move forward, international students and young travellers could benefit from easier mobility pathways, improved travel arrangements, and expanded exchange opportunities.
At the same time, the discussion also highlights growing competition in the global education market. Industry leaders believe continued policy support will be necessary to ensure the UK remains attractive for international students choosing English language programs abroad.