Author: Billy Camden

The Department for Education has been accused of “locking out” small firms in a highly restrictive and secretive T-level tender. A short procurement exercise was launched by the department on February 25 to find a company to help develop a “transitional” course, which 16-year-olds can take if they are not ready to start a T-level […]

The government is “strengthening” the approvals process for its register of end-point assessment organisations following an FE Week exposé that raised concerns. In an exclusive interview with this newspaper, the chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education revealed his organisation is working with the Education and Skills Funding Agency to make the […]

  The Department for Education is waiting for the Treasury to let them announce a start date for when the 10 per cent employer co-investment will be halved, FE Week can reveal. In his Budget speech in October, chancellor Philip Hammond announced that the contribution non-levy paying companies pay towards apprenticeship training would fall to […]

Adults earning less than the national living wage and who live outside of Mayoral combined authorities with devolution deals will continue to benefit from fully funded training next year. Prior to 2018/19, adults had to have been on benefits to receive full funding for education courses. Last year, the Department for Education launched a trial […]

Today’s National Audit Office report into apprenticeships is a “shame” because it only reflects on the past and doesn’t account for policy that will make a difference in the future, the apprenticeships minister has said. Anne Milton spoke with FE Week’s editor Nick Linford this morning during a visit to the University of East London […]

National Audit Office criticism of the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education standards approvals process has been rejected by its chief executive. In an exclusive interview with FE Week, Sir Gerry Berragan ruled out prioritising the development of particular standards, those that “could add the most value”, when clearing the backlog. There are currently 254 […]

The Education and Skills Funding Agency has asked employers and providers for feedback on the way it provides apprenticeship funding rules information. The agency called volunteers to take part in a survey which aims to make sure its funding rules are “clearer, easier to use” as well to learn more about its users. It follows […]

On the same day the National Audit Office revealed the government has “limited assurance” the 20 per cent off-the-job-training rule is being complied with, Ofsted has accused a provider of failing to ensure the entitlement is being met. Meg Hillier MP and chair of the public accounts committee also hit out today saying it was […]

There is “clear risk” that the apprenticeship programme is not financially sustainable after the average cost of training an apprentice hit double what the government predicted, the National Audit Office has warned. The concerning message came in a critical report published today, which said the Department for Education should assess making controversial decisions about reducing […]