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29 April 2026

Government identifies ‘potential risks’ for Trailblazer programme

A government report on the apprentice Trailblazers has identified the emergence of “potential risks … that require national attention in coming months”. The changeover to a new funding system and the pace of development of new apprenticeship standards were among several risks to successful delivery, according to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills interim […]

New College Durham principal John Widdowson announced as next AoC president

New College Durham principal John Widdowson will be the next president of the Association of Colleges (AoC), it was announced today. Mr Widdowson, who has been a college principal for 16 years and has served on the AoC board and Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce), will take over the role from Exeter College […]

FE bosses warned against ‘heroic’ leadership

Senior FE figures were told to abandon the traditional “heroic” leadership model at the inaugural Fetl lecture. The speech was delivered by James Krantz (pictured right), management expert from New York-based leadership consultancy Worklab, to a packed lecture hall containing leading lights from across the sector including Peter Lauener, Skills Funding Agency and Education Funding […]

FE Week Annual Apprenticeship Conference 2015

Click here to download the supplement From a little makeshift office at the back of the main room at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on Monday and Tuesday (March 9 and 10), I witnessed first-hand the incredible success of our first Annual Apprenticeship Conference. A packed room heard from an incredible line-up of speakers […]

National Apprenticeship Week 2015

Click here to download the supplement It is more important than ever, in a general election year, to shine a light on all the good work that is being done on apprenticeships. That has of course always been the main aim of National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) and providers, employers and learners gearing up for this […]

Apprenticeships as youth unemployment solution ‘damages brand’ – MPs

An “excessive emphasis” on apprenticeships as a means to combat youth unemployment risks painting them as a “second class option” and “damages the brand”, a key group of MPs has warned. The education select committee has released its report on apprenticeships and traineeships for 16 to 19-year-olds, in which it warns against sacrificing quality for […]

Learner has head in the clouds in toughest job challenge

The sky was no limit for ex-college learner Stephen Greenall as he scaled the heights of Canada’s second tallest building to prove he could take on one of the toughest jobs in the world, writes Billy Camden. Looking down from the 180-metre high Plaza Bank Building skyscraper, Stephen Greenall’s mind turned back to the comfort […]