FE Week Reporter | FE Week

Mentors are the key to apprentice success

The learning process of an apprenticeship is well-recognised for the apprentice, but it also asks much of the person overseeing that process, and as such the role of mentor is one not to be taken lightly explains Graham Hasting-Evans. Everyone is talking about apprenticeships and while each party shouts loudly about their own policy with […]

Business Secretary Vince Cable calls for crackdown on ‘short-term tactical subcontracting’

Business Secretary Vince Cable has called on the Skills Funding Agency (SFA) to crack down on “short-term tactical subcontracting”. The warning came as part of the Skills Funding letter 2015, and followed a raft of changes to the funding rules, released at the beginning of February. In the letter, Dr Cable (pictured above) wrote: “While […]

Training providers celebrate listings in Sunday Times’ ‘100 best companies to work for’

Two independent learning providers are celebrating being named on a prestigious list of the UK’s best companies to work for. Hit Training and ACT Training have both made it onto the Sunday Times 100 “best companies to work for” list for 2015. For Shoreham-by-Sea-based Hit Training it is the second year running it has been […]

FE &Skills survey 2015

Woodwork award for joiner Ben

A Rugby College joinery apprentice chipped his way to success after being named the British Woodworking Federation’s Apprentice of the Year. Ben James, aged 20, joined the college four years ago before starting as a work experience student at local firm Tompkins Joinery and then advancing on as an apprentice. Combining his work with his […]

College girls on the ball to help Wolves team to national glory

Oaklands College’s Wolves women’s basketball team are celebrating after shooting their way to victory at a national final. The Wolves were crowned champions of the Basketball England women’s national final after outscoring Oxford City Hoops of 73-54. Held at Leeds Beckett University, the Wolves had Kyla Nelson to thank for her outstanding performance after scoring […]

Album designer definitely maybe delivers ‘fantastic’ talk

Wigan & Leigh College’s budding graphic designers definitely maybe got an industry treat with a visit from Oasis and Verve album designer Brian Cannon. Mr Cannon shared his career experiences with students including how chance meetings with musicians Noel Gallagher and Richard Ashcroft led him to design fame. He also spoke about how his first […]

Edition 129: Dr Lynne Sedgmore, Monica Box & Lynn Thackway

Dr Lynne Sedgmore’s seven-year stint as executive director of the 157 Group is to come to an end later this year with her retirement. It will bring an end to a 35-year FE sector career that includes the chief executive role at the Centre for Excellence in Leadership for four years from 2004. Previous roles […]

Kevin McLoughlin and Jean Duprez, K&M McLoughlin Decorating

For any organisation to have a member of staff awarded an MBE among the New Year Honours is fortunate — but to have two looks like real commitment to a cause. And in the case of Kevin McLoughlin and Jean Duprez that cause is skills training. The duo were recognised last year and this year, […]