Cross-party mayoral candidates this week called for a £5.1bn skills levy on businesses to 'turbo charge' areas such as the Northern Powerhouse. A report by the IPPR think-tank called for the charge to be levied at 1% of payroll for the largest employers. Andy Burnham, Labour candidate for Greater Manchester mayor, joined forces with his Conservative rival, Sean Anstee, to urge more spending on training staff.
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