Author: Billy Camden

A government commissioned review is set to heavily criticise the Education and Skills Funding Agency and their intervention regime for failing to spot when colleges get into finance trouble, FE Week understands. Dame Mary Ney, who had a 40-year career in local government, was commissioned to undertake the review in August after the FE Commissioner’s […]

The mayor of London has attempted to reassure private providers they won’t miss out on extra English and maths funding for adult learners. Sadiq Khan announced last month that the Greater London Authority would increase funding by £77 for every English and maths qualification at level 1 and 2 – at a cost of £2.7 […]

The police have dropped their criminal investigation against Aspire Achieve Advance (3aaa) – although the Insolvency Service continues its enquiries into the former apprenticeship giant. Derbyshire Constabulary said it had run into “evidential difficulties”. Following a meeting with the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) on November 29, 2019, it decided to not pursue the […]

A leaked government assessment report reveals how leaders at Hull College Group employed “close family members” and created a culture where staff would not speak out for “fear of being exited at short notice”. FE Week reported last month that the chief executive, Michelle Swithenbank, and vice principal for HR, Julie Milad, had been suspended […]

Small employers can now use the digital apprenticeship service – but they will be initially capped at just three starts each owing to ongoing affordability issues. Updated Education and Skills Funding Agency rules, published today, revealed that the long-awaited transition to the system has begun for non-levy payers. The move will more than double the […]

Emma Hardy is to be Labour’s new shadow FE and HE minister, with a pledge to continue “fighting” government for greater investment in the sector. The MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle and education select committee member snapped up the position after it was offered to her by shadow education secretary Angela Rayner […]

The chief executive of education giant City & Guilds is stepping down. Chris Jones will leave on 31 January, after 12 years in post. Managing director of City & Guilds, Kirstie Donnelly, will become interim chief executive while a permanent replacement is sought. Announcing the move on Twitter, Jones said: “I’ve decided now is the […]

The shadow education secretary Angela Rayner will run to be Labour’s deputy leader, she will announce today. The Ashton-under-Lyne MP had been touted as a potential candidate to succeed the party’s leader Jeremy Corbyn, who announced his plans to stand down following Labour’s losses in last month’s election. But the Mirror newspaper reports today that […]

The prime minister’s inflation-busting apprentice minimum wage increase is “manageable” and will not impede businesses from taking on new apprentices, employer representative organisations have said. From 1 April, the apprentice minimum wage will shoot up by 6.4 per cent from £3.90 to £4.15. Boris Johnson revealed the increase two days ago alongside his announcement that […]