The web of Whitehall bodies created to close Britain’s skills gap with competitors is of “mind-blowing” complexity, changing too frequently and becoming even more difficult to understand, senior executives charged with delivering the policy told MPs on Wednesday.

The government’s newly appointed skills guru suggested the latest shake-up had made the system impenetrable. “I don’t think there’s an employer in the land who understands what the new systems are,” said Chris Humphries, chief executive of the Commission for Employment and Skills.