Skip to content
8 October 2026

Burnham: If you want real technical parity, start with VAT

Technical education cannot achieve parity while public money buys less when it is spent through colleges
John Thornhill Guest Contributor

Chief executive, LTE Group

5 min read
|

Listen to this story

Members can listen to an AI-generated audio version of this article.

1.0x

Audio narration uses an AI-generated voice.

0:00 0:00

Last week in Liverpool, Andy Burnham told his party that it is time for Britain to have hope again. As Greater Manchester’s mayor for years, he saw what its young people could achieve and how often opportunity depended on their postcode.

Now, as prime minister, he has a chance to take the handbrake off the colleges that have the ability to change that.

LTE Group works in the communities he knows, and we share his determination to end what he calls the academic bias in our education system and make technical education a respected route into good work.

Become a member for unlimited access to FE Week

Our members enjoy early access to exclusive content and in-depth articles before anyone else. Get expert journalism on FE and skills, experience fewer ads, and unlock a growing range of member benefits.

subscribe

If you have an account, please login.

Sign in
Share

Explore more on these topics

No Comments

Featured jobs from FE Week jobs / Schools Week jobs

Browse more news